WHAAA HOOOO!!!!

This is one of the most exciting days in Billy and my life...we are a couple that is dealing with an unfortunate problem...we have two houses. Our renters moved out in October and then we had to go in and remodel the downstairs, replacing all the floors and part of the kitchen cabinets, patching walls, painting and replacing some carpet upstairs. We are just about done, except for the carpet upstairs, but we got a family to sign a year lease for the house today!!! :) They are the cutest family and already live in the area. They are the first people to look at the house that didn't have any questions about the crime in the area...I am so excited to finally have someone moving in that will hopefully pay their rent. It is not fun paying two large mortgages, but we can once again breath and save money.


This is how Billy and I are feeling right now. Definitely counting our blessings and everything that the Lord has blessed us with. This definitely is the answer to countless prayers!

Go Cardnials

This post is for Billy. Yesterday was his birthday, and he kept saying that all he wanted for his birthday was for the Cardinals to win...luckily he got his wish! Over the past 3 1 /2 years that I have known him, he has always said that "This was going to be the Cardinals year!" In years past, they have always let him down, but this year, he was right. It is the Cardinals year! He is so excited to see them play in two weeks in the Super Bowl!

These are my two favorite players...Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner. I haven't ever seen a receiver as amazing as Larry Fitzgerald. I love all his crazy catches! (And for a girl, I have seen quite a few foodball games!)

Christmas and New Years

This year for Christmas, Billy adn I went to Utah to be with his mom and sisters for Christmas. It was my first ever white Christmas. Let me tell you that it was freezing and it snowed a ton. We had a great time though visiting with his mom and Dave, and his sister Jana and Anthony, Teighlor and Trent.

While we were there, I also got to see my Aunt Wilda and Uncle Nick and cousins Nicole and Steve and their families. It is always great to see them and when I am there, I realize how much I miss living so close to them. Billy and I were also able to have dinner with some college friends, Elizabeth, Kyle and Monica and Tommy and Melonie. It is always fun to get caught up. I was also able to have brunch with Laura one of my college roommates. She is a great friend and it was fun for us to hang out with just the two of us! :)

Here we are on Christmas Eve: Dave, Kathy, Tammy, Jana, Billy and I

Anthony got Guitar Hero, so I played it a little and finally got to Medium! (I never play video games and never have, so that is a huge accomplishment for me)

Cathy is also rocking out to Guitar Hero. Billy and Anthony are cheering her on.

We all got Cathy a new TV. It is something she has wanted for her home for a while, but she is the most giving person and puts everyone else before herself. We thought it would be a great opportunity to give back to her and to show her how much we appreciate all she does for each one of us.

So this year for New Years we hung out with our friends Rich and Julie and Isabella. We went out to dinner, played one of the only board games that Billy likes (Settlers of Zarahemla), went hot tubing and played rock band. We had such a good time that we were there until after 1:30 AM. For those of you that know Billy, that is amazing!

Isabella and Billy at dinner

Isabella and Kati at dinner - Isabella is such a happy girl!

Here is a picture of Billy documenting the time we left Rich and Julie's on New Years Eve. I don't think he has stayed up that late since we got married! :)

Mexico

So I have been horrible about updating my blog. With the holidays, work and school, blogging definitely is not the first priority. However, I am making some time tonight to get caught up! :)

Billy and I went to Mexico for Thanksgiving and also the week before with some friends, Rich and Julie and Kimmie and Rob. We had a great time both times, but it was a lot of driving going twice in a week and a half. It was worth it though! The first group of pictures is from Thanksgiving with Billy's family. We had a great time...but I had the biggest scare. One morning Chareese and I decided to take the kayak out to find some dolphins. We were the only ones on the beach, so we put our stuff aways from the water in a Styrofoam cup. Chareese put her camera in it, and I a put my insulin pump in it. We both thought it was far enough away from the water even if the tide came in. But we were wrong. We paddled around for a while, and when we finally decided to go back in, our cup was in the water with Chareese's camera and tank top and my insulin pump and tank top. I panicked because I knew that my insurance wouldn't give me a new pump since I only got it earlier in the year...so I was worried that I would be out $6,000+. Fortunately, as I inspected my pump, it looked like it was still working. I took it back up to the house, cleaned it out and put it back on. It worked! Unfortunately, Chareese's camera was not as resilient as my pump was and it didn't work. Sorry Chareese!

Here are all the boys going out to catch a wave on the boogie boards

Here's Billy riding in a wave

Glen buried Briggs and Owen in the sand and Bailey was looking on, not so sure about it.

Here are Owen and Briggs...they are so cute! :)

Here are some pictures from the week we went to Mexico with our friends Rich and Julie and Kimmie and Rob.

The house that we stayed at both times is right on the beach which was fun because we could go down to the beach whenever we wanted. One of the highlights for me was kayaking with Julie in the water with a bunch of dolphins. They seriously came within 10 feet of our kayak. It was fun to hear them come up for air and to see how peaceful it was out there on the water. We also drove the four wheelers, doon buggie and the Hummer down the beach and road the tide out on boogie boards. We had lot of fun.

Here Billy and I are on the four wheeler riding on the beach.

The beach house we stayed in is the green one on the right...talk about luxurious! I loved it. Thanks Uncle Bob and Aunt Shelly and Rich and Julie!

Here is the view of the beach from the house

Me cruising on the four wheeler. Someday Billy and I will have some! :)

Newest Niece

My brother J, and sister-in-law Michele had their 5th child on New Years Day. They had the first baby in 2009 in the "high desert" in Southern California. They named her Rachel. I think she looks like her brother Fenton. Here is the link for the article and video that was published in the newspaper in Victorville. Congratulations J and Michele!

http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/baby_10199___article.html/medical_gets.html

http://www.vvdailypress.com/video/index.php?bcpid=1155838627&bclid=1155200057&bctid=6202202001

I will make a more thorough update tomorrow once I am in front of my computer that has all our pictures on it!

State Fair

This last weekend Billy and I went to the Arizona State Fair with our friends Heidi, Jeff and of course Maylee. We had a great time and watched the Crazy 8 Car Race (which is not as good as a demolition derby). Billy and I saw some people from our old single's ward so it was fun to have a small reunion.
The fair is really expensive, so Billy and I bought 20 tickets to play games and to go on rides. The 20 tickets got me one ride and Billy 2 shots at a basketball game. That was a quick $10 down the drain. I am interested to see how all the people spend so much money there. I had fun on the ride, and unfortunately, Billy's shots didn't go in (although the second one was close).

Jeff, Billy and Maylee are trying to figure out our plan of attack when we first got to the Fair
Billy and I at the Crazy 8 Race

Jeff checking out a deep fried Snickers. He didn't like it nearly as much as Billy and Billy was jealous that Jeff got one

That was the ride that Jeff and I went on. We were spun in circles and the arm swung us high up in the air. For all of you who know me well, I love thrill rides...even at the Fair!

Here we are as we are about ready to leave. It was a good time and will last a few years I am sure! :)

California Fun

About a week and a half ago, I had the opportunity to go to my brother's house in California for my niece Rosemarie's baptism. Unfortunately, Billy was not able to come because he was hanging out with his sister Jana who was in Phoenix that same weekend (bad timing...I know!). I had a lot of fun with my family and am so proud of Rosemarie of making the decision to be baptized. She really is a very smart girl in the gospel.

While I was there, we went to the Rosemarie and Fenton's soccer games, celebrated Rosemarie's Birthday and had a baptism. It really was a very busy day.

Baptism

My brother's family

Me and Rosemarie

Kelly and me

My siblings

(Kelly, J, Christi and me)

Soccer Time!

Rebecca and Kathryn in their matching coats

Fenton going for the goal!
Rosemarie playing
Kathryn and me hanging out
Rosemarie and me after the game

I had a great time with my family. We are always so busy when we are together. I was sad that Billy couldn't make it...but luckily it was only for a couple days! I was ready to come home to warm Arizona because it was freezing at my brothers!