2011 McCurdy Reunion - Island Park, ID

I suppose I better update this before I get even more behind.  We were able to attend the McCurdy Family Reunion in Island Park, ID this year.  My grandparents rented a lodge and we all got to hang out for four days.  It was a lot of fun and the first year in a lot of years that everyone has been able to come.  I guess 9 months notice is enough for everyone to clear their schedules.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

We got to ride the boat (Joseph's first boat ride ever), play in the freezing cold river, watch movies, play a little pool, enjoyed the annual talent show, some people enjoyed the hot tub and we had a family Fear Factor game.  We also visited Big Spring and Mesa Falls.  It was a lot of family and fun.

 He was determined to get in that water...

 He claimed this little stump as his personal seat at the little house at Big Spring.

 Trying to get everyone set for a family photo.

Walking down to Mesa Falls with Aunt Kimme and Uncle Andrew.

 Cheese!

 He was throwing a fit because I told him he had to stay on the grass.  He threw his hat on the ground and pitched a little tantrum.  It lasted a good 2 minutes and I couldn't resist taking a couple pictures.

 He had to touch every one of those chains.

 Jumping on the little trampoline we found in our closet at Grandma's house.

  It was a fun vacation and really good to see everyone again!  Can't wait til next year!

A Visit to The Utah Wolff's & the McElprang Reunion

The first weekend in May (I know, a whole month ago... It's been a little crazy around here lately) we were able to make a trip just south of the Salt Lake area.  We got to visit AJ's sisters who live in the area and see his Mom and Dad before they headed way back North.  Joseph hadn't seen them since last summer and we're so glad they were still around to hang out with.  We even got to see my newest nephew.  He's a cutie and I snatched up all the cuddle time with that little snuggle bug I could get.  They blessed him at home and AJ got to stand in the circle, after a brief stop at the Distribution Center and Kohl's for some dress clothes.  We didn't know they were going to bless him, so we didn't take any.  It was great to get to see some of the family again.  We say every time we visit that someday it'll be home...  Someday...

Friday through Sunday, my mom's side of the family held a reunion in Murray.  We got to see even more family. They all got to meet Joseph and his fun little personality.  It was nice to see everyone again.

We're IN!

We're here in out new place!  We still have a bunch of boxes all over the place and still find ourselves winding through mazes in different rooms.  Joseph's room (I LOVE that he has his own room!) is coming along.  The kitchen is mostly done.  Our room, the bathroom, the laundry room, the pantry and the family still need some work.  Ugh.  AJ has been traveling a lot lately and that leaves me with two hours a day to unpack without my little "helper".

We are enjoying having our own space.  And having Grandma and Grandpa just across town is really great.  I love running my castle again.  We are super grateful that we were able to live with my parents and that Joseph got to know Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Andrew and Aunts Kimme and Kaiti so well.  Well, I better get back to unpacking... it's nap time, after all.

BIG NEWS!

It's official!  WE'RE MOVING!  We've been working on this for about a month.  We'd applied at one place and they just drug everything out for weeks and weeks.  It got to the point that we didn't even care if we got the apartment anymore, we just wanted an answer!  Well, when we finally got the answer, it is was "no".  We were a little disappointed, of course.  But at least we weren't stuck in Limbo anymore.

Last Saturday we went and saw several places.  We liked a few of them, but there weren't any that we just loved, for what ever reason (layout, price, utilities, quality, ect).  On our way to yet another showing, we happened upon some women stuck on the off-ramp.  AJ, being the ever-gallant hero, stopped to help them.  While he was helping, I checked craigslist again, mostly to kill some time while I waited.  I found a new listing that wasn't there twenty minutes before when we'd left the house.  It was actually right in the same area (just across the main road).  AJ finished helping the stranded women (actually, we dropped one of them off at the gas station and she insisted she'd walk back... so we have no idea what happened to them) and went to our original destination.  After we were done there, we decided to drive over and just check it out.  We drove around a bit and then decided to call on it and try to set an appointment up to see it.  Well, it was date night for the lady who had listed the property.  How about Monday?  AJ had a business trip starting Monday.  Joseph and I went with him.  So, Monday was a no-go.  We practically begged to see it before we left, and she acquiesced.

We saw it Sunday evening.  We filled out an application and put down a deposit.  We emailed a signed lease Monday afternoon before we left.  We get the keys on Monday and Tuesday is MOVING DAY!  WOO HOO!  A much better experience than waiting a month just for an answer!  I'm now procrastinating any and all packing (hoping that if I wait long enough, it'll pack itself)...

Our new home has brand new hardwood floors, granite counter tops in the kitchen, brand new carpets, and a brand new washer and dryer.  It's going to be so wonderful to have our own space again.  We are eternally grateful that my parents have been so hospitable and welcoming, but it will be great to have Joseph in his own room and to have a kitchen again.  I've missed my dishes!  =]  I don't have photos yet, but you better believe they are coming.  And you can always hop on over to While He Was Napping to watch my adventures in decorating this place.

Can I get a WOO HOO!?!

Some Photos... and an Update

I know I haven't posted here in like FOREVER, but the sad thing is I really don't have anything to post about.  AJ is currently at the beginning of Phase II of a two phase Army Training for truck driving.  So, he has been spending his days with the US Army and his nights here at home with us.  Definitely a lot better than a month across the country or something, but it has made for some long days for him.

Joseph is still growing.  Not so much up or out, but his brain just seems to have explode.  His vocabulary increases every day.  He is developing quite the sense of humor and loves to tease.  Yesterday I was working on a project.  He came over and told me, "Mom!  Cool!"  That's one of his new favorite words.  My personal favorite in elephant.  And purple.  'Elephant' isn't really distinguishable, but when he sticks his tongue out and says "blaherblan" that's what he means.  My brother, Andrew, came home from his mission at the end of January.  He and Joseph are quite the buddies.  Joseph has also become Grandpa's little shadow.  He asks for "Papa" at least three times a day.

I'm just doing the mommy thing.  And loving every minute of it.  Well, not every minute... Joseph has picked up a habit of screaming when he gets frustrated or upset.  He then gets a time out... which I'm not sure he really gets the purpose of yet.  He did ask me "what I do?" the last time I gave him one though, so maybe he is learning. 

Joseph is that big ol' blur daddy's throwing around.  Joseph LOVES it.

Meeting Uncle Andrew for the first time.

Merry Christmas to All!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Military Ball 2010

Well, technically is was a "Christmas Party".  Nonetheless, it was mandatory and formal.  The whole sitting around and listening to people talk about how amazing they are doesn't ever thrill me.  But, it is fun to get all dressed up pretty and go out with my best guy.  I realized, though, how little I actually know about the Army.  They showed some skits the different units had put together and I so didn't get like any of them.  Oh well.  I definitely don't want to learn any more than I have to.  I don't think either AJ or myself will be too heartbroken when his contract is up.  The Army has it's pros, but as with everything, there are also cons.  Which list is longer?  That's a personal decision and every list is different.  Anyways, here's the pretty pictures.

Update!

Goodness!  I can't believe it's the middle of December already!  Well, let's go back in time for a moment and revisit Thanksgiving.  AJ, Joseph and I went up to Idaho the Friday before Thanksgiving, by way of Boise.  We got to spend a night with Kevin, Amy and Chloe.  Unfortunately, because we were so scatter-brained and hopping from here to there and everywhere, I didn't take many pictures.  We left Kevin and Amy's Saturday afternoon and went to Pocatello.

We stayed for a couples with AJ's brother, Richard and his wife.  It was good to catch up with them.  We also got to spend a couple of nights with our friends Ashley and Russ.  Joseph had such a good time playing with Colter!  It's so sad that we moved so far away from them!  Joseph and Colter were in cahoots the whole two days we were there.  We hadn't been there long when Colter lifted up the toilet lid and Joseph promptly threw a rubber duckie right in.  They made a good, mischievous team.  We really enjoyed getting to see them.  We didn't get to see all the family and friends we had planned while in Pocatello, but we did get to go to our old ward.  It was good to see some of the people that left footprints in our lives.

We went into Grace on Wednesday afternoon.  My parents and sisters got in a little later that day.  My aunt Sherry was there and we got to see Uncle Dana too.  We had Thanksgiving on Thursday at the church.  On Friday, we got to relax and spend some time hanging out with family.  Saturday morning was our McCurdy Christmas party.  Joseph got a cool toy that looks like the dashboard of a car with a steering wheel, gear shift lever, and other fun buttons to push.  It sings and plays animal noises, numbers and ABC's.  THANKS RYAN!  AJ got a cool tool set ("You can never have too many tools!" -AJ).  I got a fun cookbook and a super cute personalized tile.  Thanks Troy and Amy!  It was a lot of fun.

We left Saturday afternoon and headed to SLC.  We spent the next few days with AJ's sisters in American Fork and Pleasant Grove.  It was good to see them again.  We miss living close enough to take spontaneous trips down there.  Joseph and Ruby were fun to watch play together.  Boys and girls are soo different.  Ruby loved her dolls and Joseph threw them on the floor.  Ah, well.

Nap Time!!!

It was fun trip and we got to see a lot of family and friends, but we were glad to get back home.  Back to our bed, back to Joseph's crib, back to not living out of a suitcase, and back to not packing up our belongings every couple days.  It's amazing to vacation, but there's no place like home... where ever it may be.

One Last Ride

AJ and I got to go on a motorcycle ride last night! I so miss being able to do that more often. Life just gets so busy. Thanks to Mom for watching the little munchkin so we could go. We went up Mount Rose. I didn't know that there was yellow in Nevada! And even a little orange. We went all the way up to the summit before I was a little Krista popsicle. BRRR! AJ pointed out 38 degrees on the temperature gauge on our way back down. Sure made the low 50's feel good once we got back into town! We took a quick snack break and photo op at the summit.

Yup, we're still smitten!  =]

Picture Post

Here's Some Pictures... I know that's what you come for.  =

]

So, I'm not real sure what this post will be about... but I have that guilty feeling again, so here we go...

Well, AJ is getting a new job.  Kinda.  Sorta.  Not really.  It's the same job, just a different title.  But this one will have the tuition assistance, no cap on his hours (no overtime either, tho... lame), and benefits.  That will definitely be nice.  He spent the last weekend in September with the Army.  And then flew to San Diego the next Monday morning to meet up with my dad for a trip they are on for work.  He should be back sometime on Tuesday.

I have been spending a lot of time with WHWN and my favorite little boy.  Last week was a good week.  I got both of my giveaways mailed off and fulfilled quite the Etsy order.  Which was a good thing... cuz I pretty much already spent most of what I earned.  I'm gonna call it "investing".  Gotta have stuff to make more crafts... to sell... right?  And if they don't sell... that's too bad, guess I'll have to keep them all.  =]

Joseph is so silly.  He loves to play outside.  It's been cold and rainy (ok, not really cold, but not the 90+ degrees we were used to) the last day or two, but it's torture to keep this boy inside.  Today he went out and played in the mud... This kid was in HEAVEN!  Momma was less than pleased with the laundry she will have to do, but he was so cute and happy that I couldn't help but stand and watch him with a smile on my face.  I really do love being a momma.  Joseph also loves music and dancing.  My little sister Kaiti got Just Dance for the Wii for her birthday.  Joseph loves to dance with you.  Put a Wii remote in his hand and he can even hold his own... until he gets distracted by something else, anything else.  Everything else.  He's such a fun little boy.  Love him!

Wanna See....

The coolest date night ever!!!  Check this out!  And even get the chance to win one... Go on, take a look.

Quickly, Quickly

Not much to report, just feeling a little guilty that I post on WHWN (While He Was Napping) every day and not anything near that frequency over here on our family blog.  Although I definitely get more traffic on WHWN.  lol.  But it's a lot of hard work to get every single one of those visits.  Hopefully, Eventually, it will pay off. 

Anyways, AJ is prepping to leave tomorrow and spend the rest of the week in southern Nevada.  I really, really wish he didn't have to travel quite so much.  I keep waiting for the 'travel season' to slow down... but it's like every other week he's gone, if not a chunk of every week.  It's rough doing the "Joseph Routine" all by myself all the time.  Meh, enough pity party.  AJ has his first drill at the end of the month with the NVNG (Nevada National Guard).  We'll find out more then about what other Guard stuff he'll have to do.  AJ isn't going to school this semester.  Some things came up and it ended up not working out this time.  He didn't qualify for the tuition assistance we thought we would and he was getting out of state tuition price on top of that.  OUCH!  So, we decided to take the money that would've cost, get our own place first and then get him into school by next fall.  A bit of a wrinkle in the life blueprint.  But, whatcha gonna do?

Joseph is still growing... He is developing quite the vocabulary.  He isn't always (ok, hardly ever...) understandable, but he jabbers the day away.  He is developing quite the sense of humor.  He loves to tease.  He must get that from his daddy... =]  Today, we were riding in the car and I noticed he had a finger up his nose (don't even get me started on this one... ugh).  I told him to put it down and pulled his hand away from his face.  He just looked at me, stuck the finger right back where it was and then stuck the other index finger up the other nostril!  The little punk!  He was totally teasing and laughed so hard I couldn't even try to act stern when I told him that was "yuck".  His laugh is so infectious and contagious.  It's one of my most favorite sounds.

My days consist of trying to get my little business some lime light, face time, recognition, ect, ect, ect.  It's a lot of hard work and V E R Y slow going.  The business aspect, unfortunately, hasn't seen much progress yet... but it is getting out there more and more.  So maybe someday...............

However, if you want a super cool date night check out WHWN on Thursday.  You can even enter to win a neat giveaway.  Just FYI.

Sealing Anniversary

It's true that I will always be a February bride... Not the way I envisioned my wedding when I was little, but there was very little about my wedding that I had envisioned. In a way though, I was also a September bride. Last year we became an eternal family... The best kind of family. And sometimes I wanna be childless for just a moment and I get frustrated with my handsome Honey, but I am so grateful that they are mine, all mine. Forever. So, here's to my boys and the future family we may have, here is to forever. I love you!