The Parkers

Since we've been in Utah

2011-12-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

Mike and I moved out to Utah mid-August for Mike to start MBA school at the University of Utah. We stayed with the Parkers (his parents) for a couple months before moving into student housing at the U. I couldn't have asked for better in-laws. They are the most caring and wonderful people to be around; always doing good for others. Love them! We now live in a very small 2-bedroom apt that's pretty close to being on campus. I got a job at the University of Utah hospital in the Labor and Delivery unit, and though challenging every day, I'm starting to love it! Mike can walk to school and is enjoying all the homework and tests again...ok, well, he's doing well anyway and making some good friends. It's different being in a ward of all young married people after being in a family ward for 3 years, but it's fun. We've made a few friends and we're liking where we are right now. So, since we've been here, here's what we've been up to:

Going to a few weddings: cousins Erica and Summer both got married in Oct and Nov. in the Salt Lake Temple...literally 10 min away from our apt.

Here's Steph and I at Summer's reception in the photo booth area. I got to hang out with Steph and Steven that weekend...so fun!

Christiana and I with our childhood babysitter, Dhara. So cool to see her again!

Here's me dancing at Erica's wedding reception. My cousin David's little boy wants to be a brake dancer, and is well on his way...watch the leg in the air trick...so cute!

Some good wholesome prego dancing....this was really hilarious. Christiana could have completed the prego dance group if she wasn't about to go into labor...she delivered a couple days later.

Steven lived in Provo from August to November taking an ACT course and applying to colleges. He lived in Provo with the Clarks and it was awesome to get to see him more often! He's accepted to BYU Idaho now...all grown up! I'm so proud of him! Isn't he cute in his Harmon's apron (his job for the last couple months living here).

Mike and I bought season tickets to the BYU football games with some of the Parker family and our friends the Irwins. It was really fun to back at school for the games...good times. Go cougars!

All bundled up for one of the last football games on a very cold night! True blue fans!

Utah sunsets are so beautiful! I love the mountains too! This is the view from one of Mike's class rooms. Pretty awesome!
Shopping at Costco...and yes, this is part of "date night" and it was fun.

We had Thanksgiving here with some of the Parker family. The day after was the annual Parker family hosted ginger bread party. Steven came and made this beauty with me.

Notice the incredible ingenuity of the ice cream cone and lettuce palm tree and the gingerbread man in the Jacuzzi...it's my dad. Dad, you would love this event!

In November, my dad turned 50. My sister Mimi put together this video of all of us telling him how much we love him and stuff...it's really cute.

Here is the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8um4jOUQhbQ

So many weddings and new babies to celebrate in our family lately. It's fun being in Utah and close to all these relatives and being a part of their exciting life moments. Christiana delivered this little cutie, Paisly beginning of November. Such a cute new born!

I came to visit Christiana in the hospital. Oh, I want one so bad! Look how cute and little!
My favorite activity...snuggling with a baby. So precious!

Oakley delivered just a few days ago (in Dec) this little bundle, Scarlet. She's adorable!

What's Christmas in Utah without seeing the temple square lights? We went to see them a couple nights ago...so freezing cold and snowing, but we endured it and the lights were beautiful!

Mike had his last day of school yesterday and is off for 3 weeks. I'm the worker bee, though and will not be getting that much free time, but we're so excited for Christmas anyway. Our apt is decked out and I've been listening to Christmas music since Halloween was over. I love this time of year. Merry Christmas everyone!

We love our family!

2011-11-25T12:56:00.000-08:00

Just a minute to brag about the cute kiddies in our families:

Niece Abby on the Parker side. We miss her now that we don't live in San Jose by them anymore.

Abby's new sister, Ivy. We can't wait to meet her this Christmas!

Nephews Jude (top) and Josh (bottom) on Madsen side. Too bad they live in Michigan now...so far away! Story time with big brother...so cute!

Jude is such a cute little butter ball with a dimple chin. Doesn't he just look delicious!

Steven and Julia (my lil' bro and sis) doing synchronized back flips at gymnastics. Man! They are talented! They grow up so fast!

Summer of 2011

2011-10-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

Since I last blogged, a lot has changed for us. We quit our jobs and moved to Redding for the summer to spend some time with the Madsen family before going off to school. Here's a recap of May and our June thru August vacation.

Before the big move, Mike turned 30 on May 25th. He didn't want a big fuss made, so I of course through him a surprise party and invited all our friends. I had everyone meet me at the park before Mike got home from work and then I called to tell him I had a flat tire and needed him to come get me. He was really mad and then arrived and was totally surprised. Bam! Nailed it! He never suspected. Everyone dressed in black and all the decor was black (like a funeral) for this "so old man's" birthday. It was pretty fun if I do say so myself.

Looks like someone didn't want us to go. She loves taking Mike's shoes and trying to walk in them. A girl after my own heart...loves shoes. Love you Abby!

We got to Redding just in time to spend 2 weeks with the Snows. I love holding my little nephews! Jude was so tiny then! He's sleeping on me in church in this picture..so precious.

What a smart boy! He looks good in Uncle Mike's glasses.
Always smiling...I can't stop taking pictures.
This is a replica of a picture Steven took with Jude's brother Josh when he was this small...Simba!

We spent a lot of time at the lake on my dad's sweet boat. Oh how I love summer and tanning with my girls.

Mike's first time out wake boarding for a couple years. He was awesome! Wish we could do this all year long!
We went to a family friend's wedding on one of the hottest evenings in the summer in Redding.
I saw a lot of old friends at the wedding. This is Hillary. She used to babysit me and my siblings. Oh memories. Love you Hillary-dillary-dock!
Chillin with my sibs on our parents' bed. I love it when we can all be together! That's the thing about everyone growing up. You never know how few and far between these moments are going to be.

We left Redding for a week to go to Utah for a Parker family reunion.

We found these awesome lava rocks to climb all through when we were at a cabin in Duck Creek.

These are two of Mike's sisters: Sarah and Karen.
This is my nephew Wes. He was the lead explorer on this trip. Totally fearless!

We all got our fair share of scratches and scrapes in those rocks, but it was totally worth it!

I hurt myself and had to go back to the car when they all found this awesome little cave and tried to all fit inside for a picture. What a cute bunch of explorers.

Oh yeah. Julia came with us...cause my nieces all love her to death...it was a surprise. Yay!

Another Parker adventure at Bryce Canyon. What a beautiful hike!

Mike's parents, Jim and MarJean. They planned a really fun time together that week!

Lauren and Hannah....Tree huggers!

We've got it..no worries...it's really heavy though!
Nieces Aubrey, Sydney, Olivia, Kali, and Ashlyn. Always ready to pose!

Even little Abby came for the adventure. I was so jealous of her pink parker shirt. Oatmeal is not my color....not anyone's color if we're being honest right! haha!

We also stopped in St. George to see my grandma Tutu and the Ludlow family. While there, we did some more hiking. We went to Zion's...so gorgeous!

I had to take Mike to the Tuacahn theatre in St George one night. He'd never been! I love that place. It's an outdoor theatre right amongst all the beautiful red rock. We saw "Greece" the musical.
Then back to Redding for the rest of the summer. No work, no school, just lounging by the pool, doing little projects for my parents, and having a good time with family. What a nice break!

Did I say how much I love being at the lake! I love being at the lake. I love summer!
I even got to hang out with my best friend from high school, Kat and her cute little girl, Hannah.

Hannah's first time tubing...she loved it!

After the summer was over and we came out to Utah for Mike to start school mid-August. My parents came too for Education week. I loved it! I loved it more with my parents! I love my mom and dad's obvious joy and desire to learn more about the Gospel and become better. It was fun to go back to BYU again also. Here's my mom and I with John Bytheway...one of our favorite youth speakers. He was awesome of course!

February, March, April, and Random:

2011-05-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

FEBRUARY

Valentine's weekend surprise with my awesome hubby. We drove along the coast, stopped off at the beach to sunbathe a little on our way to the city where we stayed in a cool hotel and went to the ballet at night and beautiful gardens in the morning. Wow! I guess he loves me a lot! : )

MARCH

Rock climbing with Christina and Mike and Abby - only 1 year old and she's a natural!

It's a miracle! I can see! No more contacts or glasses! I got LASIK and had to sleep with these plastic shields over my eyes for like a week - very flattering, I know.

Stephanie cut my hair short again. It's the shortest it's ever been, but I love it! I feel so grown up and stylish!

APRIL

Our niece, Abby's 1st birthday. Don't worry, that's her piece....I think.

Mike and I went to visit Mimi and her family in Chicago in April, about a month after their new addition, Jude was born.
Above: Cuddling with Jude. This was my favorite activity of the trip.
Seeing the sites and eating the awesome food was super fun too!

Best hamburger I've ever eaten!

We are literally on top of the world...seriously, my ears were popping going up/down the elevator at the Sears tower.

The Bean! So cool!

Chicago is such a beautiful city!

He's gonna make a great daddy some day! What a natural! Jude loves his Uncle Mike! And Josh can't get enough of wrestling with Mike and playing on his iPad, of course.

Thanks Mimi and Matt for sharing your space with us and showing us Chicago! We had a blast!

RANDOM:

I think this is at the beach at a night concert in Santa Cruz with the Irwins. Fun! I love Summer!

Bath time is so fun! This is when she still fit in the hospital bin...so funny!...she thought so anyway!

Steven and I in our cool Christmas one-piece pajamas

It's not torture...she likes it!

December -babysitting Abby, past our bedtimes...ZZZzzzzz

Abby recently learned to walk...this is when she was just starting out, now she's a pro!

Bay Area adventures, Jan. 2011

2011-01-31T14:15:00.000-08:00

The famous Santa Cruz Mystery Spot

Believe it or not, he's standing straight up in this spot of the house.

look, we're mysteriously almost the same height on this level spot of ground.

I'm standing straight up on this table, but it looks like I'm falling...weird.

I got so dizzy in this house. Really cool place!

Day trip to San Francisco with the Irwins.

They went to Alkatraz while we went on a bike ride over the GG Bridge. We also walked by the pier and ate sea food and stuff...just getting in a bunch of stuff we hadn't yet done or wanted to do again in the Bay area while we still live here. Two days later, the Irwins moved to Utah :(

None of us are used to sea food, let alone crab... it was an experience.

They make cute animals out of sour dough bread and you can watch for the street.

Sunset from the hills past the GGB. Beautiful!

Our hard core bike ride through San Fran and across the bridge. So fun! We live in a beautiful area! I can't believe it took us almost 3 yrs to finally do this.

Christmas 2010 in Redding

2011-01-11T09:56:00.001-08:00

Madsen family pictures:

The Madsen siblings. So cute!

Silly is easier for us...comes naturally.

Ok, serious now- this one's for the Christmas card...took us forever!

Dance/karaoke party time on the PS3...hours of fun!

Josh loves reading books - look how attentive he is... so cute!

Our favorite toy this Christmas! Look at the happiest woman ever to be a grandma!

Steph semi-dyed my hair (it's a PM shine that fades gradually). It was a pretty dark cherry red - Awesome!

She also did our eye lashes! It's so fun having a professional cosmo girl in the family!

10 K....Yes we DID!!!!

2011-01-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, our friends Madison and Cody talked us into training for a 10K (6.1 miles) race here in the Santa Clara mountains. So we trained and trained and trained together. What we didn't realize was that the race turned out to be about 3 miles completely up hill hiking on a single file trail and then right back down the way we came for 3 more miles. It was killer! We were all sore for at least a week afterward. And Madison did all that while 6 months prego! Amazing! This was Mike's first race like this and he did so great! He got 4th in our age group! He's made for this kind of stuff! It's hard to figure out why you pay to go run a long way, but it sure feels great to finally complete a race like that after training for it - Victory!

Family Pictures

2011-01-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

Mike and I spent Thanksgiving in Saratoga Springs, Utah with his family. We had a great week with the family and visiting some friends too. We also got Parker Family pictures taken outside in the freezing cold weather. What a cute family! I was so impressed that all the little kids were still smiling after 2 hours of posing in the cold weather without jackets.

Group hug!

I know it looks sunny, but it was freezing cold!

Mike and his siblings - what a good looking family!

Steve, Christina, Karen, Sarah, Janet, Mike

We also helped put on the annual Parker Gingerbread-making party. It was my first time participating in the awesome tradition. So much fun!

This tradition has gotten progressively bigger over the years. Now they have to hold it in the church gym so that everyone can come enjoy the fun.

Look at our cute little gingerbread home.

Some of our cute little nieces doing a little craft.

How do you like Abby's new glasses? So Cute!

I love Halloween!

2010-11-03T14:13:00.000-07:00

We had an outrageously awesome Halloween Carnival and Trunk o Treat with our ward this year! I got to face paint little kids at the carnival and Mike helped out the young men with the marshmallow wars forts and shooters. There were some great costumes and really yummy food. Mike and I went as cave men. I love dressing up...and I think we looked pretty authentic!

Don't you just love Mike's wig!

Ahhhhhhh!!!!

Redding Trip with the Irwins

2010-11-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

These are our friends the Irwins (Madison and Cody). They live upstairs from us in our apartment complex and are in our ward too. We brought them up to Redding with us for my mom's birthday weekend. It was really fun! We love hanging out with them!

Here's a cute picture of my handsome hubby after church on Sunday in Redding.

Mimi and Josh surprised us the 2nd day we were there. No one knew they were coming except my dad, and he never let it slip! We were so happily surprised! Here we are at our favorite place to eat in Redding, Black Bear Diner. Josh is copying Steven as he always does..so cute!

First meet with Baby Beck

2010-11-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

I went to visit my cousin Christiana and her new baby Beck when she was home in Sacramento.

Look at the cute new mommy!

Look how much his grandparents love him...so cute!

So precious!

He likes his cousin Melissa...maybe 'cause I fed him a bottle.

Newport Beach, California

2010-11-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

August 2010: I went to So.Cal with my family for a summer vacation in Newport Beach while Mike was away on business. He surprised me and joined us for the last day of vacation! I love my man!

Why is it that you can't find frozen banana stands anywhere, but they are everywhere in Southern California.

I love frozen, chocolate-covered bananas!

Steven built a huge hole and they made a fort out of it.

Then we buried him up to the waste in it...he's standing up!

Look at the big shell I found on the beach!

Yogurtland! Yum! We ate there every day!

Ok, I guess I should post something already!

2010-08-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

Summer totally just flew by! I mean, I'm a grown up now, so that means I have to still work through the summer, but we had a fair share of vacations here and there too. We went to the beach in So. Cal with my family for a while, went to Redding a couple times, hung out with the Parker family when all of Mike's siblings came out for Christina and Mike's Sealing and Sarah's endowment in the Oakland Temple (awesome experience to be there all together - out of this world/heavenly for sure), Santa Cruz a few times with friends for a concert or the youth for church activities, and a little this a little that. San Jose has been pretty nice all summer, barely ever in the 80's, usually 70's - Cool! Work is...well, work is work, but we have great friends here and love our ward and our new 1st floor apartment. This is a really brief post that has a whole 3 months crammed into it, but whatever! Here's some pictures from this summer so y'all can see some of the stuff we've been up to (plus some cute pictures of our niece, nephew 'cause they're just too cute not to post them).

Cool artsy photo by my hubby of Josh on the tracks (family hike to a waterfall near Redding)

Also pretty artsy...and just funny! hehe!

Josh loves my brother Steven.

Hiking with the fam. This is the only picture I could find of us from this summer - some one needs to cough up the pictures they've been taking...Dad, .... Mike.

Everyone loves Josh...especially Stephanie! Kisses...please...kisses!

Christina and Mike and Abby after being sealed for time and all eternity. : )

Babysitting Abby - cutest cheeks ever!

Here she is learning to eat. Christina is trying to feed her rice cereal. She's so cute!

I went out to Utah for Mindy and Jorge's wedding (she was my roommate for a couple years in college - awesome couple - I love them!)

Christiana, my bestest/closest cousin in the world, had a beautiful baby boy in July. She named him Beck. She went through all that labor and still looks fabulous in this picture...of course!

I can't wait to meet him! What a beautiful miracle babies are!

A TRIBUTE TO MY GRANDPA

2010-06-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

If ever there was a person who affected the lives of so many around him through service, example, and love, it was my grandpa John. Always working and busy with something, and always interested in learning more about the world, people, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Anyone who has met my grandpa has never forgotten him, and I'm sure he didn't likely forget them either (he never forgets a face, name, how to spell that name and connect the dots of their genealogy). A brilliant mind, health fanatic, and people-loving man was he. He could never be content to sit still in life and I'm sure he's busy doing many important things even now while on the other side of the veil.

Being there for his passing was a real treasure of an experience for me. It was my pleasure and honor to help care for my grandpa who has cared for and helped so many others (including me) during his lifetime. He did more in his 76 years than anyone else could do in 200, I'm sure! Though he wasn't always close by for all of the family to see, he made his visits count by inquiring genuinely about our lives and interests. He always supported us in our righteous endeavors and even gave advice as needed. He helped me to realize my potential as a nurse, and was a great example and inspiration to me by going on many medical missions even after "retirement." I could go on and on about his achievements during his life here one earth, but what really matters is that he loved his family and we loved him. He wanted us to be happy, to live and love the Gospel, to be healthy, and to seek knowledge and testimony. I felt that through his words as well as his actions.

His faith was never without works; he taught by example. He taught us to always kneel on the floor for family prayer, and encouraged us to share our talents both at every family reunion as well as in our own lives and callings etc. I'll miss him, but I think I'll just think of him as on another mission somewhere because I bet that's exactly what he's doing now in heaven.

I'll always remember my grandpa's strong hugs and kisses on the forehead. Also, I loved his little chuckles when the family was all gathered and being silly together. And I will always think of him when playing a grand piano, because whenever he was home while someone was playing, he would lay down on his back right under the piano where the sound is the strongest, and go to sleep listening to that beautiful music (and he could fall asleep anywhere and in no time flat - what a gift). He knew how to "choose the good part" in life.

For as health-conscious as he was, he could not be immune to ever sickness. And it is a reminder to me to live well, and not waste a moment because life is so short and so precious. Death is not the end however, and I know that my grandpa is happier than ever now that he has returned home. I'm sure there were angels in the room the day he passed through the veil because I was in that room too. He was surely welcomed home by old friends and family including and especially his beloved mother and father. It must be a grand reunion up in heaven now that he is back, and though we will miss him for a short time here on earth, I know that our family is forever and we will be reunited once again.

Until we meet again, I love you Grandpa.

For newspaper obituary see: http://heraldextra.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/article_75fcad63-1fed-5f1b-92db-f5af74c36f09.html

Aloha means "with love"

2010-04-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

Hawaii was awesome! We spent the first 4 nights with my Aunt Lu and Uncle Gordon and Cousin Michael near Wikiki. We stayed in their guest room that overlooked the ocean. It was so fun to see the Hiltons again after so long. The next 3 nights we spent at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore - "True Hawaii."

Some trip highlights:

1st day in Oahu driving along the coast/beach hopping.

__________________________

Polynesian Cultural Center:

A whole-day event filled with traditional presentations from all the Polynesian islands including Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Hawaii, and more! It was awesome! We attended a Luau, learned to hula, and had a great time! We also visited BYU-Hawaii and the Laie Temple that day - gorgeous!

After the Luau, there was a special show performed. It was called "Breath of Life (Ha)" and was so beautifully done - lots of hula and warrior dances - really cool!

How do they move their hips like that?! Amazing!

The crazy eyes are part of the performance - to intimidate/war face (Mauri people)

"Everybody Hula!"

___________________

Hanauma Bay:

Hanauma Bay - snorkeling was awesome!

_________________________

Waikiki:

Buying souvenirs at the tourist market in Waikiki - this is a coy pond.

Waikiki, on the beach at night - the city is literally right on the water's edge - so cool!

This is the surf king of Hawaii from back in the day. People hang their leis on him everyday in Waikiki - big tourist hot spot.

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Turtle Bay Resort:

The view from our room at Turtle Bay Resort. Right on the beach - gorgeous!

"Hortus the Tortuous" - built by Mike and I on the Turtle Bay Beach
We watched this Hawaiian Munk Seal swim up the Turtle Bay next to our hotel and plop on the sandy beach. He stayed there to sun bathe for the next 2 days before leaving.

_______________________________

Dole Pineapple Plantation:

We're pineapple people! : )
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Pearl Harbor:

A Pearl Harbor veteran
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The Laie, Hawaii Temple:
Visitor's Center
Beautiful temple grounds - beautiful flowers everywhere

The temple was closed for renovation, but we just walked on the beautiful grounds there. From where we are standing here, you can see down a road lined with palm trees straight out to the ocean. Beautiful!

I'm looking at the island that looks light a hat...while wearing a hat : )

Aloha!

5 days 'til Hawaii !!!! : )

2010-04-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

Mike and I are taking a trip to Oahu on Tuesday because he's never been and because we can right now, being DINKs and all (Double Income, No Kids). We're so freakin' excited! Like more excited than Sue on SNL! (If you haven't seen her skits, you must!)

I'll update the blog with pictures and stories when we return.

Aloha!

Kiss me, I'm Irish!

2010-03-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day!

I spent the day at work, yippy! I have no green scrubs, so I taped a little green piece of paper to my top and wrote "Happy St. Patrick's Day" on it. Corny! I know, but at least I didn't get pinched.

Anyway, since I last posted, we've had family in town, and gone out of town to see family and there's lots of new pictures to see. I'm not super witty, so blogging, for me, is all about the pictures, and not so much about my less-than-captivating writing.

We went to one of Julia's softball games while in Redding. She is one good athlete!Josh liked to come sit with Auntie Julia on the bench...we tried to keep him away, but he kept going back. I don't think the coach liked that, but Jules loved it...they're so cute together!
Mike took some great pictures with his snazzy camera and had fun making them look really artsy fartsy and professional. I love these black and white ones with little pops of color!
Yes, we did let him play with chalk in the garage right next to a full gas tank. Funny picture.
Chalk is so much fun! I miss being a kid sometimes. Look what I drew! I love you Honey!
My family also came to stay the weekend in San Jose when Jules had another jump rope demo. It also happened to be her 12th birthday, so we made her a brownie/icecream cake and took her to see Wicked (just the girls). She loved it! I can't believe how fast my baby sister is growing up! And Steven too! He has a license and a car now...lucky guy...and so darn cute!
My sister-in-law is having a baby any time now and so I made her this quilt. Here we are at her baby shower in Palo Alto...I know, I look hideous in this picture. I think I look better in person than on camera/pictures...or at least that's what I tell myself. ;)

Mike and I got to babysit our friends' baby, Brighton the other night, and he is so cute! We had fun watching him and I felt so proud of myself for getting him to sleep!

Mike was so good with him too. He's a natural with kids!

Jules was here again this last weekend with my mom for a jump rope competition. The Shasta Skippers did an awesome job! And Julia was a big part of that! I'm so proud of my lil' jumpin' sis! She's really fun to watch! Here's her singles routine. The double dutch routines are on youtube and are also really fun to see - she does back flips! ( see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li9GhEzYZuo and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Tmb-u_ll8 )

Valentine's Day 2010 and More!

2010-02-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

Our 2nd Valentine's Day together was a great one! My dad came up to visit for the weekend, and though I had to work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We took some fun photography outings at night and even an all-day excursion on Monday (President's Day) to Half Moon Bay, Maverick's, and San Francisco. I love hanging out with my dad, and I think he and Mike had a lot of fun with their cameras gadgets. They are so much alike (they love technology).

But even with all the commotion going on, Mike still found time to get me roses. What a great guy!

My Dad made this super-yummy pizza while he was visiting us...Mmmmm! I didn't know my dad could cook anything besides grilling hamburgers on the grill, so this was a surprise!

And, of course, it's not a proper visit to the Bay without going to Palo Alto and eating at "Stacks," our favorite breakfast place. We like food...and taking pictures of it :)

Yes, this banana pancake filled up the entire plate...impossible to finish even one!

The newest addition to our kitchen is this awesome Blendtec blender. It blends anything! Seriously! My dad enjoyed the smoothies we made while he was here...it's only a matter of time before he buys one too...sorry Mom, but I think we convinced him :)

There's a show called "Will it Blend?" on Youtube all about the Blendtec.

It' was a little pricey, but we're already eating more healthy and including a lot more fruits and veggies in our diet because of this fun new gadget. It's also one of the reasons, we didn't go all out on gifts for V-day this year. We both love it! Come over for a shake or smoothie! It also makes great soups and ice cream...Amazing, I know!

So, I've been saving our old jeans to make a quilt. First, it was going to be for Mike's birthday (that was in May), then for Christmas (which came and went), and so now I guess it is a late V-day present 'cause I finally finished it! Hallelujah! That's one project I won't be doing again for a while...so tedious! I am pretty proud of the finished product, though.

New Year's in AZ

2010-02-23T09:04:00.001-08:00

After Christmas in Redding, Mike and I went back to San Jose to work for a few days and then took off for another vacation to Arizona to be with the Parker family for New Years. the whole family came and we all stayed in the Judd's home in Chandler, AZ...yup, all 25.5 of us (one is in the oven...Christina's oven, not mine...just to clarify). :)

We had a great time. We went bowling, swimming, golfing, shopping, and of course...we had some GOOD food!

Here's pictures of all the fun we had. So many cute nieces and nephews, we just took so many pictures...and they LOVE to pose!

Go Jake...get a strike!

My sister-in-law Sarah, in the hot tub with some of the girls. They would stay in there all day if we let them...they're little fish!

Concentrate Janet...it's all on the line here....go for the TURKEY!

Go Lauren!

Grandpa Parker...nice form!

Park pictures. That's right! It was sunny and warm (shorts weather) almost every day we were there (DEC/JAN)...no fair Arizona!

Funny face Parker!

This is "Fish Olivia"

Kali-Poki, the youngest....for now.

Aubrey,...most likely to never take a bad picture in her life...born to pose!

Sassy Sydney

They're all just so cute to photograph cause they keep doing cute things!

Hannah and Ashlyn

Wes makes the funniest faces.

It's a little crazy when we all get together, but never boring! I love our big Parker family, and it's only getting bigger, and louder, and more fun and just beautiful! Miss you all and love ya lots!

Christmas

2010-02-23T08:34:00.000-08:00

Here's our little tree all decorated for Christmas in our little apartment.

I had to work for Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day. After work on Christmas, we jumped in the car and headed forRedding, where my family had waited to open presents with us...How sweet! My dad took all the pictures, so I'll have to wait till he gives them up, to complete this post. It was a great Christmas though...it always is when you get to be with family!

Mike's new-found love....photography

2009-12-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

For Mike's birthday in May last year, I got him a super awesome camera and he loves taking all these artsy pictures of nature and stuff. These are some pictures we've taken in and around San Jose.

SeaCliff Beach near Santa Cruz. Sunset on Valentine's Day:

I call this art! Look at that face...he should be in commercials!

Wild life just outside the SF city. It's the best of both worlds in the Bay Area.

Doesn't this one look like an old movie shot...it's the Golden Gate:

San Fransisco Bay with my Dad on President's Day:

A view of the moon one night from our balcony.

Sunday afternoon photo shooting adventure. This is just in the neighborhood around our apt.

Beautiful Whiskeytown Falls:

A tree outside out apt in the fall...ok... I actually took this one:

...and this one...not bad, right.

I love this one! So pretty...it could be a postcard or greeting card.

Mmmm, yummy!

Wow, Mike! I'm so proud of you Honey! Some day, we'll have a room in our house filled with pictures on the walls that he took. What a fun hobby!

Thanksgiving

2009-12-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving, Mike and I actually BOTH got a WHOLE WEEK off from work and went to Redding to spend it with my WHOLE FAMILY! This is rare and we are so grateful we got to do that. We had so much fun with the whole family and everyone had fun playing with cute little Josh. It was fun and relaxing to be home.

I always seem to play the piano more when at home... on the piano I KNOW&love.

One of the favorite activities while home was our ping pong tournament with the Missionaries on Thanksgiving Day. Here's me teaching Steph how the game is played. Actually I think she might have beat me...whatever, I'm not bitter.

The boys all had fun building a tree house together in the back yard, which became a serious project when Mike and my dad got going...ideas for future expansion are already formulating. Steven loved all of this "man time" and sent me a picture of him painting it after we'd all left.

Mimi and Matt made us some excellent rolls for our Thanksgiving feast.

What a cute little "Cooking Couple" they are!

My dad got us all matching "Madsen" team shirts. They look great, I know...and we even had a chance to all wear them together when we played a friendly game of whiffle ball with our friends, the Cooleys. I know they felt a little foolish for not having their own team shirts, but there's always next year.

Joshy -Poo....love that hair! He's so big and fast now!

He loves all the attention we give him...esp. auntie Stephy!

My sister Stephan is our family beautician when she comes home. She graduated from Paul Mitchell Cosmotology School last year and is amazing with hair!

We all got to go to my cousin Nicholi's wedding at the Sacramento Temple at the end of our trip.

Here's my always-gorgeous younger sister Stephanie at the reception. She's a blonde again.

Yeah, my family is pretty awesome! And I love them so much! Thanksgiving is one of my favorites, 'cause it's about remembering what you're grateful for...and my family is definately at the top of my Thankful List! Families are Forever, and for that, I'm eternally grateful,...'cause my family rocks! I love you all and miss you every day we're apart!

A weekend in Redding

2009-12-07T16:48:00.000-08:00

We love going home to Redding any chance we get. A couple weeks before Thanksgiving, we went up to Redding and hiked to a beautiful waterfall by Whiskeytown Lake, watched Julia's mad skills on the B-ball court, hung out with Steven and his friends (by the way, he drives now!), and Mike got to use the fire torch on a pile of wood/leaves in the back yard.

"You're like a drug to me!"

2009-12-07T16:01:00.000-08:00

So, having read all 4 of the fabulous Twilight series and/or listened to them on CD, Mike and I were so excited for New Moon to come out. Mike surprised me with tickets to the midnight showing and I was so excited, I actually made us T-shirts. I know, geeky, but we had fun!

Here we are in our seats, anxiously awaiting the start of the movie along with hundreds of screaming teenage girls. I loved it so much, I went and saw it again the next week with my mom and sister.

Church Ball

2009-10-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

So Mike and I started going to the stake volleyball games and playing on our ward's team. The first time we went, Mike got out all his old gear: special shoes, back brace, knee guards, etc. and we headed over to the church an hour and a half early to "warm up and stretch" and to "watch other games going on." Naturally, we were the only ones from our ward there that early, but Mike could not have cared less. He was just so happy to be there and playing the game again...it was so cute to watch him get so excited about something. This was the first time I'd seen time I'd seen him play because he stopped playing for the BYU club just before we started dating, and I never got to see him in action. He's pretty awesome...I'm not gonna lie! I didn't get real great shots of him playing since I was playing too, but I did make a couple of videos with my iphone and I'll post them as soon as I can figure out how...hehe!

Beehives Rock!

2009-10-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of me with most of the girls in my Beehive class at church. They are the cutest bunch of young women, and such good girls! I love being their teacher every Sunday, though, I think they teach me more than I do them.

1 year down,....forever to look foward to!

2009-10-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary Mike! Wow! We've been married for an entire year already! It really seems like just yesterday that we were married for time and all eternity, but at the same time I feel like we've always known each other. What a great year! Happiness truly is being married to your best friend.

Mike and I went on a three day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico to celebrate. It was great! Cruises are so awesome! You get great food 24/7, activities, the sun and pools, a comfy room with a view of the ocean, people catering to you...etc.etc.etc. all for one lump sum. And the only thing you have to plan is when and how to get to the boat you're sailing on. It was really fun to see another country and bargain shop and use what little Spanish I know too. If anyone is thinking about taking a cruise...I say, do it! ... and invite us along ;)

Summer Fun

2009-07-22T13:51:00.001-07:00

Here's some highlights from our Summer so far:

Mike and I went to Redding for Father's Day and Josh's 1st birthday. I took Josh swimming and he was just loving it! He's soooo cute!

Wee!

I love playing with my sweet little nephew! He's so cute!

Family pictures at home in Redding...Fake laughing picture with the Madsen girls...Yeah, we should do catalogs, I know.

Madsen kids + Husbands...Josh was napping

Our whole family went boating on our friend Cooley's boat...it was great to go wakeboarding again. And it was Josh's first boat ride...he loved it!

We celebrated Josh's 1st birthday in Redding... the same day as Father's day! Josh loved his first piece of chocolate cake.

Mike went down to take the trash out and found a collection of someone's unwanted furniture just sitting there. He called me down there and we hauled up these four lovely items:

This shelf/entertainment-center thing

This night stand/cupboard thing

A dresser

Yep, we found a huge TV (twice the size of the one we already had)...and yes, it works!

If you remember, I found a set of dining room chairs a few months ago and recovered them. It's funny how so much of our furniture was taken from beside a dumpster or a garage sale or craigslist! It's so much more fun getting things for a deal...or free. What luck!

A couple weeks ago, we went camping in Utah with the Parker family. We went to the most beautiful place in Payson Canyons. Julia came with us, and had so much fun with all the kids.

Here they are playing on the tree see-saws they made themselves.

We brought a water balloon launcher and had a lot of fun launching them out into the big open field next to us while half of us stood out there to try and catch them. Here's Jules launching.

The famous "Toyota Jump" Parker family picture

Throwing Julia into the Devil's Kitchen... a small version of bryce canyon in bright red...cool!

We hiked to this little waterfall that was freezing, but that didn't stop almost every one of us from dipping under the waterfall on the HOT day

Me and my cute little sister...she's always so much fun!

We made s'mores and banana boats over the campfire at night...these were so amazing!

Grandpa Jim told us all stories every night by the camp fire.

Julia and Hannah were tired after all the non-stop activity. Cute little friends!

Told you it was beautiful there!

Our nephew Wes in the hammock someone brought.

Aunt Christina and Parker sling-shotting rocks at a make-shift target

Grandma and Grandpa Parker with little Sydney

These girls are always ready to strike a pose

A few of us participated in a shooting course that Steve and Mike set up. I was a horrible shot, but Mike was great and julia too. All the nephew were great too and really impressed w/ Julia.

In Redding again, we got to play with the whole family since Matt, Mimi, and Josh were there too. Mike, Matt, Steven, and Julia had fun practicing there aim with Steven's guns.

So did Grandma! This picture is so classic!

Fourth of July near Fremont. We went to Mike's old ward for a BBQ and then to fireworks in Milpitas with Mike's best friend Jason and his family. It was a great show!

Best Buds: Jason Casper and Mike

We up with everyone in Sacramento for my cousin Oakley and Scott's wedding.

Mimi and Matt made their cake....amazing isn't it! They've really got talent!

It was so hot at the temple after the wedding and during pictures. Look at the little "Macho Man!" What a little stud!

Family picture at Oakley's reception

This is a shot of some of the youth in our ward that I got the chance to go river rafting with. It was such a great time!

Catch up time!

2009-06-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I haven't written in a long time, so now it's catch up time! Here's a little update on what we've been up to the last couple months.

Mike and I spent Mother's Day weekend up in Redding. Here we

are making a yummy fruit salad for our Mother's Day feast.

Inspired by my Dad and my sister&brother-in-law, Mike and I decided to plant a garden on our front patio. It's so fun to watch them grow, and they've grown a lot already!

We've almost got some veggies/herbs ready to eat!

For Memorial Day Weekend/Mike's Birthday, we went up to Lake Siskiyou with my family for a camping trip....well, we camped for real in this 2-man tent, and others.....

....camped in here....it's called "Madsen Camping."

We had a lot of fun and went to the beach front at the Siskiyou Lake, took a day trip to McCloud and the waterfalls there, and attended church in Shasta Lake City. It was such a beautiful and relaxing trip!

We managed to get a flat tire on our way out of the camping grounds. How many men does it take to change a tire? Apparently three!

When we got back to Redding, we all helped prepare a divine BBQ dinner for the celebration of Mike's 28th birthday. Then we had ice cream pie while he opened presents. It was really fun to all be together for his birthday! Nobody does birthdays like Madsens do!

Beach day with Christina and Mike at Brighton Beach. We went to the

temple with them earlier that day....Great day!

Mike's lovely sister Christina and her husband Mike live close to us (Palo Alto) and it's so great to get to hang out with family so often!

This is a close up picture of the flowers that Mike got me for my birthday...pretty huh!

My mom and Stephanie came through on the night of my b-day and celebrated with us. Thanks for coming you two...that was fun!

I took Mike on the same hike that I'd gone on with the Young Women earlier this month. It's 30 min from our place and it's gorgeous!

Mike loves using his new camera!

Look at that STUD!

Here's the view from the top at sun set...we live in a beautiful place!

Learning new skills

2009-04-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

So, I'm joining my Young Women at church in completing the Personal Progress program. They've changed it since I was in Young Women's and I lost my necklace, so I'm going to work toward earning another one. Plus, now there's an added value (virtue) to complete, so I've got my work cut out for me. One project that I've now completed...my first one to get signed off...is that I learned a new skill that I can use to bless my family life. I learned how to professionally frost and decorate a cake. Ok Matt and Mimi, I know I have nowhere near your experience or expertise, but I think I'm ok for a beginner and it was so much fun! Here's the little cake that I learned to make flowers and leaves on at Mutual Night.

The rose was so fun to learn, and really pretty simple! My favorite was doing the leaves though.

I put M+M on the side so I could show Mike that I made him a cake.

MAKING OLD THINGS NEW

2009-04-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

The other day, I found a set of 4 dining room table chairs by the dumpster. They were still in pretty good shape and someone was just throwing them out! I grabbed them and hauled them up to our 3rd floor apartment and decided that I would give them a chair makeover and then use them for my kitchen table which is now a fold-up card table and folding chairs. So here's what the chairs looked like when I found them...not too shabby, just a little mangled by the previous owner's dog probably.

Before:

After removing the seats, recovering them with fabric and plastic, sanding the damaged parts of the chairs and repainting them; I had Mike help put them back together again.

After:

Pretty Cute huh! And they hardly cost me a thing!

ARIZONA

2009-04-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

Mike and I went to Arizona for Easter weekend and visited family. We got to spend time with both of our sisters! We went to the Mesa Easter Pageant with the Judd family on our first night there. It was wonderful, and the Mesa Temple is beautiful! I haven't been to Arizona since I was really little and Mike has never been in his whole life! The next day, Karen drove us and the kids out into the wilderness of Arizona and we explored near the Superstition Mountain and ate Prickly Pear ice cream. Yummy!

Arizona!

Karen was so great to take us all on an adventure through Arizona.

Exploring Arizona with the kids and Karen... Cacti are so cool!

We went swimming/hot tubbing in their awesome pool.

Sydney decided to give Olivia a makeover and have me take glamour shots. So cute!

We also visited the Snow's and met up with my whole family. We went to the Diamond Backs baseball game, shopped a little and had a fun Easter Sunday at Matt's parents house eating and playing basketball. It was so good to be with family and to finally see where they've been living in the great state of Arizona. Little Josh is getting so big, and he's adorable as ever! I just love to squish him and so does everyone else....he gets smothered with kisses when his Madsen Aunts and Grandma come around! We were sad to go back home and to the grind of the work life. What a great trip! Not long enough!

Mike, eating his famous "Mike dip" as my family calls it...yummy!

Mike loves our little cute nephew, Joshua!

Look at his "grown-up" Easter Sunday outfit... loafers incuded... :)

Lounging at the Matt's parent's house on the lawn after a yummy meal

Playing knock out, and no, I didn't get out first every time...I was pretty good, thanks very much

Swinging baby... so cute!

Squishing the family toy again...love love love him!

Look at our awesome, matching, $6 baseball tees that we wore to the game!

Julia, aka the candy-a-holic, digs into our treats from the Easter Bunny Sunday morning.

Me and my buddy! I love that little ball of squishy cuteness! I miss you always Joshy-Poshy!

I got BANGS!

2009-04-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

I've been contemplating getting bangs again since I'm growing out my hair and I wanted some sort of cut/change. And since Stephanie is two states away, I had to take matters into my own hands. Yep, I cut my own hair...just side bangs and some layers in the front. I watched a few videos on YouTube before I started so that I'd at least have some idea of what I was doing...I know, scary. Well, here's how it turned out...it's probably far from perfect (Steph, don't look to close and you might not see my mistakes), but not too bad.

2009-04-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

* FLORIDA TRIP *

3/25/09 - 3/30/09

A few months ago, Mike and I got this sweet deal to go to a Hilton Vacation Club resort in Florida if we listened to a time share pitch. So we booked some flights and invited Christiana and Justin to come with us. We had a blast at Universal Studios one day and Disney World for two days (we went to Hollywood Studios park and Epcot). It was a lot of fun and excitement, and by the end we were worn out! On the last day of our trip before going to the airport, Mike and I got massages - he's never had one! It was amazing! It was my first time to Florida and Mike's 2nd. Florida is so gorgeous and sunny, and they have the most amazing thunder storms and lots of bugs. Amazing trip!

Universal Studios

We decided to make this a yearly tradition (this is our second characater portrait)

EPCOT in Disney World

Disney World with Christiana and Justin

Mike in Disney's EPCOT Mexico. "You PLAY those maracas Babe!"

On the Orlando Temple grounds...pretty and green!
Florida has weird grass, hard and squishy. Don't sit right on it....ouch!

We walked around the temple and took fun pictures after church on Sunday.
Look at Mike's hot model picture...Smokin'!...he's mine!

The Night Life

2009-03-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am, sitting at work (the night shift at the hospital) just trying to keep myself busy and awake during these few hours of the night where there's oddly nothing to do since every one of my easy patients tonight are sleeping. I've been working here for about 7 months now and nursing is becoming more and more routine and natural; though, there are still shifts that I want to scream and pull my hair out because it's so busy, and there are often things that take me longer since I'm less experienced in some areas. But overall, I like nursing and am so grateful to have a steady job during this hard time for our economy. Mike is in kinda the same boat since he isn't exactly working at his "dream job," but at least he has a job and is getting good experience for the future. We're so blessed at this time when so many are experiencing unemployment and financial hardship, and for that we are so grateful to our Heavenly Father.

In other news, we are loving our new ward at church. There are so many interesting and friendly people in our ward. We've both been blessed with callings and are striving to live up to all that is expected of us in these positions. I love being in Young Women's with all the girls; it's a lot of fun. And Mike is such a great secretary for the Elder's Quorum.

Mike and I are on this Body for Life kick where we work out together and eat healthy stuff like protein powder and bars etc. We just started so we still need to take our funny before and after pictures (like it's really going to look that different) and maybe I'll post them if they're not too embarassing. :)

Well, life has it's highs and lows, but overall life is good! I love all your blogs everyone. Keep them updated 'cause it's my entertainment during the slow hours of the night shift. :)

OUR FIRST VALENTINE'S DAY

2009-02-25T15:01:00.000-08:00

Mike and I had a great first Valentine's Day together! He made me breakfast in bed, bought me roses, took me to Monterey Bay to the aquarium, and made a wonderful dinner that night. He also hid roses in my car or brought one home for three days prior to Valentine's day. So Cute! I gave him an over-sized card with a candy-hearted message inside and a bag full of gifts (shirts, old box of mementos of us, coupon book, etc.) Plus, I hid notes in various places so that he'd keep finding them over the next few days and he still hasn't found them all. He loved it! Valentine's Day is so much better with the one you love!
These orange jellyfish were huge, and so graceful and beautiful; definitely my favorite thing at the aquarium! We even ordered sea food for lunch at a restaurant right on the bay and it was GOOD! Fresh! It was a wonderful day!

Highlights of 2008

2009-01-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

Dating, visiting and going on trips with Mike over the summer, and falling in love.

(kissing on the Sundial Bridge in Redding)

(the whole Madsen Family)

(hiking to Stewert Falls in Utah)

(Seeing Wicked for my first time! Amazing!)

(Mike and Jules being silly on the Sundial Bridge; they're cute together)

(Berney Falls near Redding)

(San Fransisco day trip that included Alkatraz)

(Festival of Colors at the Hiru Chrishna Temple in Salem, Ut)

(Disney Land with Mike's friend Jason and his wife Brenda)

Graduating from BYU (Me-Nursing, Mike-Business)

Passing the NCLEX (me), and getting jobs in San Jose (Mike at Stryker as a

cost accountant and Me at Regional Med. Ctr. as an RN).

Discovering that Mike can fly....what a stud! (in Redding by my family's pool)

Getting a beautiful little nephew, Joshua Grant Snow!

Getting engaged on the 4th of July, then planning a wedding in about 2 months!

Getting married to my best friend in the whole universe

Getting 7 new nieces and 5 new nephews. They're all so cute!

Honeymooning on the CA coast

Dressing up for Halloween as the Incredibles and going to a ward Trunk'O' Treat

Enjoying our first Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's together

as a married couple, with family in CA and UT.