FAMILY

Here we have a picture.... most recent of the whole family... minus zoey.

CHASE

I have to start out with my wonderful husband.

I feel so blessed to be married to such a sweet, talented guy.  Chase is seriously the funniest, smartest, most unselfish person I know.  

He is going to school at UVU to become a fancy business man. . ;)

He is such a sweet tender hearted lovable person. 

We most definitely live-laugh-& love together. 

 The first time we said I love you... September 29

 The night we got engaged. .. November 29

we tend to like the 29 for some odd reason

 BYU Basketball Game... GO JIMMER!

 Veil Colorado... (getting over the flu in this photo)

Colorado

MOMMY & BMOC

For those of you who don't know my parents... man, you are missing out.  These two are the most incredible people I have ever come across.  They are such kind hearted, sensible, charitable, giving, loving, just totally awesome all around.  They are also a complete ball!! If you have spent a few hours with them, you will know how truly great they are, and how seriously funny they can be!

 BMOC (Big Man on Campus) & my BEAUTIFUL MOM

KYOUNG-LEE

KyoungEEE is my awesome sister from Korea!  She is SOOOOO funny!!! Kyoung just radiates happiness, joy, and love!  I love spending time with my Kyoung-LEE.  Kyoung is going back to Korea soon for her sisters wedding. I'm going to miss her like nuts while she is away.  It was so nice to have her at my wedding, since the other two dilly dongs were out of the state... THEY HAD GREAT REASONS might I add. ha ha  Kyoung is the life of the party!! WOOT WOOT!

AMANDA

Amanda is finishing up her LDS Mission right now over in Hawaii. She is a go getter when it comes to life and living it.  She graduated from BYU before she left and plans to attend PA school when she returns.  She holds the brains in the family.  Amanda loves to laugh, do weird dance moves, and occasionally go running.  She loves to try new foods.  She gets home December.... where does time go???

I feel like she just left, but it'll be nice for her to come home.  I can't wait for her to meet Chase!!

MADELAINE

Madelaine is also serving a mission, over in New York.  She right now is serving in the Hamptons. ... (i know what you are thinking, why didn't i go on a mission?? ... with the odds of it, i would've been sent somewhere nice....hawaii... new york...  haha but no being married is the best thing i have ever done.)  Madelaine is the living of a dream type of girl.  She knows what she wants and nothing will get in her way to accomplish her goals.  She is a crack up of the family... some of her comments are too good to be true.

Sisters are always great... naaa, i shouldn't say always.  Everyone that has a sister knows that sometimes they don't seem to be THAT great... but i LOVE my sisters.

They are both complete goofballs, and that is why we are family.  We've been through our ups and downs, and we have fought over the clothes, make up, and other silly things.  However, in the end, we are always there for each other.  Always have been... and ALWAYS will be. 

HOWIE HO HO

Howard (John) holds a very special place in my heart... He was always my best friend.  We used to laugh together when we were little over the dumbest things.  We used to play at recess together back when i was in 6th grade and he was in Kindergarten.  He's not so little anymore.  He is now a grown man it feels like.  He is still the same little howie ho ho though.  We have sweet adventures together.  Howard knows how to crack me up even if i am truly upset.  I love him so so so so so much!  He is THEE best brother i could've ever asked for. 

ZOEY JANE

Zoey is the greatest little sissy of all times.  She is the baby of the family and she does get pampered and spoiled at times.  She brings so so so much joy to everyone!  Now that i'm married, Chase and I have to make trips over to my parents house just to see her.  :) 

Zoey rocking out on the piano

Celebrating Daddio's Birthday

Christmas 2010

Sleeping on my mom... (my mom will kill me for this picture)

We might not have it all together.... but together we have it all.

i LOVE this picture of Kyoung & Howie... :)

simplicity.

this week i have gone back to the basics....
just being simple.
living life and enjoying every second of it.
my favorite thing from this week was waking up and baking with chase.
dancing around like fools.. singing into spatulas as if they were microphones.
and just living happily.
these are the times in life i think I'll reminisce.

this is very typical for us... ha ha 

the more simple life is... the easier it is to enjoy.

...do it for the children

mexican & guatemalan kiddos...

things i love and absolutely adore.

the 3 pictures above where from a humanitarian trip to Vera Cruz Mexico.

We went by the orphanage to visit and play with the little guys....

they took a little piece of my heart. 

How can American's be so soooo greedy and ignorant??

In Mexico, they literally had nothing.

I have never met a happy group of people, a more giving, selfless, inspirational kind of people.

My life was touched back in 2008 with the people of vera cruz. 

guatemala 

it's my dream to go back here with chase.

to take him to the country i love with my whole heart + some

oh how i miss it.

these kids in guatemala city were incredible.

even though there is that little language barrier....

they just radiate.

they beam with the pure love & light of Christ.

Ahhhh... what a true joy they brought/ still bring to my life.

the children of guatemala also stole a big chunk of my heart.

what a beautiful country, poverty stricken, unstable government...

but what a BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS place. 

in my book... everyone should put in of their bucket list to go to antigua guatemala. 

everything works out... it always does

life is bizarre. weird. frustrating at times.    ...   but i think that is what makes life so great.

over this past year i have learned a whole lot about life.

about the pain 

and sorrow it can bring...

                                

i still haven't figured out why us humans lash out at people we love

Why we take all our frustration out on others?

why we like to make rude irrational, hurtful comments??

i have learned these past few months that those hurtful comments, those irrational comments do no good to anyone.  i have come to understand that the only true cause for these hurtful words is the one saying them.

i have to remind myself that the people who make rude snide remarks are fighting their own battles.

that they themselves are hurting on the inside.

why is it that when we are so vulnerable, jealous, insecure, or maybe even just immature-- why is it that we find it ok to try to degrade, disrespect, and bring others down??   it's a bit twisted and wrong, right?

i don't understand, but it's not for me to understand.  i've realized that i just need to get over these things/actions that are thrown my way.  that i just need to be "the bigger person" and turn the other cheek.  fill my heart with love instead of frustration. 

walking around life with a big chip on your shoulder only harms yourself.  it's no bueno.

so i'm going to try giving love a chance, the whole "forgive and forget" thing might actually be amazing.

i have learned in life that if you keep your chin up and make it through those rough times, a happy moment will come to you.  you will be blessed for being strong and making it through.

I do know that family is crucial!!  friends come and go, but you are stuck with your family forever.

i love it.  i know that you need family in this life... 

life can be hard and cruel, you need your family-- the safe place to go when the world is just too much. family is a blessing to have. 

one of the most important concepts i have grasped in life is knowing that everything always works out.  i'm not sure how.. but it does, and to that i am extremely grateful.

well that's all my thoughts for the day.

love like crazy

be a best friend.

tell the truth.

overuse I love you!

go to work.

do your best.

don't outsmart your common sense.

never let your praying knees get lazy...

and... love like crazy.

yup, this song sums up my advice in life.

being married is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

it's a lot different than i thought it would be.  

it's most definitely fun, it's just trying to figure our lives out and where we want to be in 5 years or so...

I am going to use this blog to jot down my thoughts for the week, mine and chase's adventures in life,  and just some favorites of ours.  

as for now... we are just living happily married.