Happy Birthday, Shem!

Shem turned 29 on the 8th! Woohoo! We did lots of celebrating, considering this is his last year in his twenties. It was fun getting together with family to celebrate. In fact, we got both sides (the Couch's and Wanlass') together at Joe's Real BBQ in Gilbert. Oh yeah, now that's the stuff! Anyone who has never been there should go! Great food and fun atmosphere! Here are some of the memories we made...


I can never get her to pose for the camera! Notice the shirt? "I love daddy SOOOOO much." She definitely does!


Such a little stud. This is Colin, Sharina and Chris' son.

Sharina and Chris (my bro)

Such proud grandparents!


Nixen is so adorable! I love his orange nose and hands!
Our cheesy group picture! Gotta love it! Look at Nix and Maycee...they're planning something mischevious.

Thanks so much to our families for coming to celebrate! Happy Birthday, Shem! I love you lots!

October Conference

I have not kept up with blogging lately. I've had numerous computer difficulties and it's making me crazy AND since Maycee began crawling I've not been able to get much done with anything. That includes getting ready everyday. Motherhood is by far the hardest thing I've ever experienced and I feel like such a bad mom at times. Messier, impatient, and not superwoman. So after a night of waking up multiple time with a hungry baby girl that is the lightest sleeper in the world, I'm attempting to catch up today as she catches up on sleep.

Maycee and I had the opportunity to go to Utah for this past conference. Shem couldn't go, because of school. We were sad to leave him behind, but excited to see grandma and grandpa. My parents drove us up there and it was long, but worth it.

We had tickets to see the Saturday afternoon session. I was sad Maycee couldn't go, but my mom stayed back to watch her while my dad, pops and grams, and I drove to Salt Lake from Ogden. It was enjoyable spending time with grandma and grandpa, and I was so happy to be able to listen to the prophet and his apostles speak. I will never forget the feelings and impressions I felt while there.

We also were able to celebrate my grandpa's 82nd birthday while there. He loves sweets and he has his special chair where he watches tv and his favorite snacks are on the table next to him. We decided to give him some nice containers that will help keep his snacks last longer. And my grandma made her traditional roast beef, yum!

We had a great trip and thank you pops and grams for having us! We will miss you til next time.

My Grandma enjoyed Maycee. Maycee is so easy to love.

Grandpas's Birthday!


We went for a walk to enjoy the beauty of Ogden. The trees on the mountains were beginning to change color. Fall!

Temple Square was so fun. I love visiting. I'm so glad to have been able to walk on the grounds and feel the peace. It's amazing how different the temple grounds are compared to the rest of Salt Lake. The temple, in the middle of a busy city, seems so still and peaceful. We also went to the Lion House Pantry Restaurant. That was my first time ever eating there! All these years I've been missing out, most definitely.




In the Salt Lake Temple Visitor's Center.
Saying good bye. We can't wait to visit again!

Maycee's biggest milestone yet!

Yep....she's crawling! Exactly 7 months, 1 week, and 4 days old! So her first day of the "crawling movement" was on Sunday, the 19th. It's only been 3 days and she can crawl across the room! She's getting SO big! I'm so proud of her. She is becoming so independent. Shem and I can't believe it! It was one year ago from this month that we found out we were having a girl. Where has the time gone? I'm so happy to know she is growing up strong and healthy. We are so fortunate to have such a sweet little girl! Yay for MAYCEE LYNN!!!!

Dancing Scorpions

I'm not kidding...scorpions dance! The other night, Shem was looking for tools and went out in the garage. A second later, he hollers to me to come see something. I KNEW it had something to do with scorpions (we live in a scorpion infested house, or so I'm convinced). So in front of the fridge in the garage there were two scorpions doing something freaky...locking claws and pulling each other in opposing directions. It gets weirder, one of them was PREGNANT! Seriously, there were a ton of babies on its back. We concluded, they were having a special "moment" together, mating or something like it. Sick!! I strongly dislike these evil creatures. I'm convinced they are alien insects trying to injure the human populating of Mesa.

Check it out....!!!

Sorry to anyone that is grossed out. I had to share!!

Random thoughts

What a wonderful weekend. I wish I could write everything that I have felt. I had the opportunity to attend meetings to hear from Elder Cook and Elder LeSuer, along with each of their wives. Although I heard many things, there are two things that have stuck with me that I want to share with others.

{Elder Cook} He spoke on faith. He shared many things, but I can vividly recall over and over his testimony on the unwavering witness that comes through the impressions of the holy ghost. Faith truly is "things which are hoped for, but are not seen". He talked of the importance of letting yourself be led by unseen faith and not having the desire or need to "see" evidence of confirmations of the truthfulness of gospel principles. I loved the words he shared of Joseph Fielding Smith, which said,

“Therefore, the seeing, even the Savior, does not leave as deep an impression in
the mind as does the testimony of the Holy Ghost to the spirit. … the
impressions on the soul that come from the Holy Ghost are far more significant
than a vision. It is where spirit speaks to spirit, and the imprint upon the
soul is far more difficult to erase.”

Isn't that so profound and so true? I love the phrase "the imprint upon the soul
is far more difficult to erase." In any case, be it spiritual or not, feelings
are much more impressing that those of things that are seen (in my experience).

{Elder LeSuer} He spoke on things of a more sacred nature,
pertaining to attending the temple. He spoke of other things, but I was so glad
to hear his words. All I can say is I am so thankful for temples and the
privilege it is to be able to worship the Lord there. All the things we are
asked of by the Lord and by doing those things, we prove our worthiness to be
able to attend the temple.

It is always a blessing to be conscious of how blessed I am regardless of all the heartache and disappointment that has
occurred in my life.

One last thing:

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men
weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that
humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto
them." Ether 12:27

This is a recurring favorite. I love this scripture because no matter how humble we think we are...there is always improvement to be made; this beautiful promise applies to all of His children, us.

Happy Sunday!