Temples

I love to see the temple...

Living in New York, and even Denver, I have realized how much the temples really mean to me.

When living in Utah, I definitely took the sacred visits for granted. There is a hill in Orem, just a mile away from where Anthony lived during our first 3 years of marriage, where we could go sit and we could see the Provo Temple and the Mount Timpanogos Temple at the same time. I miss that spot more than anything. We used to go to the temple every month, and now we are lucky to go once a year... MAYBE. 

We visited the Denver Temple yesterday. We couldn't go in because it was closed for cleaning, plus we had Amelia, but just being on the grounds gives a piece of heaven. Away from the day to day, away from the world. And we need that. Life can be a drag, lets be  honest. It is nice to know that we have somewhere to go to get away from it all and focus one what truly matters. 

 I am so grateful that I was sealed to Anthony. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't made the decision and the promise to myself to get married in the temple. I know I wouldn't be as happy as I am now and I truly think that it is because of the covenants and promises we have made. Being sealed is the most important thing I have ever done, and probably will continue to be throughout my life.

I saw this video on YouTube and it really made me think... It's worth the wait.

I hope you like it.

Am I still live? Yes.

Since I stopped doing Amelia's monthly update, I have been horrible to this blog. I don't want to download all of our pics on this computer because it is Anthony's school computer, so I will just wait until we get back to New York.

This blog is practically on life support.

And I'm not really resuscitating it here. 

Just a little bit of this and that.

We have been having a blast this summer. Love this area, and since we most likely won't be coming back to Denver, I am glad we could live here for a summer. There is so much to do and the climate is perfect!

We went to the Denver Botanic Gardens. 

We went to the Red Rock Amphitheater. This is where Incubus (my band, my boys) film all their live music videos. I wish they were touring this summer, but they are not.

We go to the park a lot. 

She is getting SOOO big!

And this is what happens when she is given ice cream. For Real.

OFF THE FREAKING WALL.

Didn't go to bed until 12.

Amelia and I LIVE at the pool. 

I have been asked if I have some other ethnicity in me.. No I don't.

I put sunscreen on EVERY time too. I just turn tan in 1 day.

Anthony is not so lucky. His stomach was peeling for a week after being in the sun for (no joke) 25 minutes.

So cute how she lifts her legs off the grass.

She really wishes she could float.

I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine. I will try harder to revive this space of mine.

Goodbye Google Reader

 I am sure many of you have heard that Google Reader will no longer be updating your blogs. This means that when the blogs you subscribe to or follow update their blogs, you will not know unless you go directly to their blog. This seems like such a hassle right?!

Well, I have been using the Bloglovin' app  on my iPhone, and I love it. I haven't found an other app that works as well. They also have a website that links with the app, so you are able to read the blogs on your computer too. With this new Google update, Bloglovin has created a super easy way to upload all of the blogs you follow onto their website. Now instead of going to your Google reader, you can just sign into Bloglovin.com and read them there.

Here is a great tutorial on how to do so.

http://heartifb.com/2013/03/15/how-to-move-your-google-reader-rss-feed-to-bloglovin/

and here is an other one

http://hubbyjacksblogattack.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-to-join-bloglovin-hjs-linkup.html

Hope this helps. I was pretty confused as to what they meant by their 'spring cleaning' and I am glad I can read blogs easily this way.

Life in Denver

Since we arrived in Denver, we have been having a blast. Our apartment in Ithaca, NY, is being rented out (so we don't have to pay double rent!) and the renters are using our furniture and other household items. Because of this, we weren't able to bring a lot of things and have been buying odds and ends since we got here.
Luckily, and randomly, I have a few really good friends that live here and we were able to borrow most of the big items. Jessica is building a new house, and bought all new furniture so we got her old couch, bed, crib.. It is AWESOME!

So far I love it here. Definitely reminds me of home.

Amelia did so good on the plane. She slept for the first flight and about 45 minutes of the second flight. She just played the rest of the time. I taught her how to listen to the ocean in a cup. She thought it was amazing.

She is finally getting long hair. She loves to brush her own hair.

Great Grandma Pat made her the cutest outfits. She also learned how to pose.

View from our balcony... looking at my home.

CAFE RIO... she likes it too!

Sticking letters to herself. 

We also got a new baby cam. We love watching her. I always thought she fell asleep right away, but that was a big fat lie. She plays, jumps, claps, and sings for 15 minutes before she decides to lay down... Adorable.

I am very excited for this summer. I love the area and I am so glad I already have friends in the area. It is great. 

Goodbye to New York... See Ya'll in August

 We are now living in the Denver area for the summer. I didn't think that leaving Ithaca would even spark any emotion, but then I realized that people were leaving... and NOT coming back. What?! I just met you and now you're leaving.. and not coming back. We have made some good friends here, and I hope that we can keep in touch with all the great friends we have met.

Before we left, we enjoyed some tidbits of Ithaca.

Closing social.. Trying to walk.

 Picnic at Taughannock Falls 

Stewart Park

Graham, Amelia, Hal, and Isla

 Isla and her family are moving to Arizona this summer. and NOT coming back.

Syracuse Zoo

We went to the zoo during finals week. I swear it is Anthony least busy week of the school year.

He is very time efficient. It was a birthday celebration. 

This handsome guy turned the big 27!

For his bday, he got a bunch of randoms.. but he also got a season golf pass.

If you need him next fall, he will be on the green.

First Birthday Party

Amelia had TWO birthday parties. 

One in New York with our friends, and one in Utah.

It was a joint party with her BBF, Isla. 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one of Amelia's favorite songs, so I thought it would be a really cute theme since she isn't into characters or toys.

 We let her open her presents on the morning of her birthday party. She really didn't know what to do.

She also wasn't too interested in the presents, until we opened her new walker! She loves that thing!

She had a bad diaper rash, so she was diaper-free for a few days..

We had the party at the Carpenter's home. I fully endorse joint birthday parties. 1/2 the preparation, for something they truly don't care about :) I think I enjoyed throwing the party more than the girls enjoyed having one. 

 

It was so fun having all of our friends there and Amelia enjoyed playing her all her little buddies

The SMASH cake.

Amelia did NOT like the frosting on her hands and almost cried when she couldn't wipe it off.

Isla, on the other hand, devoured that thing like it might vanish! It was adorable!

I would say it was a successful night.