The Earley's

Birthday and Graduation!

2010-12-20T14:30:00.001-08:00

I'm a little behind on this post, since my birthday was on the 10th and Mike graduated on the 11th. It was such a fun weekend, and it was even better that our family was able to come.

First, birthday dinner at Red Robin. I LOVE my birthday, even though it's kinda sad getting older and older. Arianna really liked my birthday balloons :)

The graduation ceremony was awesome! I have waited for this day for so long. Arianna did really well during the whole things, but got a little tired toward the end as you can see. She is such a sweetie!!

Mike and I. YAY!!

Mike and his momma!!

Four generations :)

We finished off the evening by opening some of Arianna's Christmas presents. She really loved helping rip off the wrapping paper and loved every present so much she stuck each one in her mouth.

December Already??

2010-12-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

(Disclaimer: Mike said that I could only share this photo with the caveat that it may or may not be our Christmas card photo :)

Wow, I can't believe it's December. It's definitely my favorite time of year! I remember last year we didn't do too much for the holidays, because I had crazy morning sickness. This year I'm hoping things will be different, especially since it is Arianna's first Christmas.

To start off, Mike and I hit up Black Friday for the first time EVER! Man was it crazy!! We went down to the Woodburn outlets in the afternoon, and all of the stores were so crowded. Luckily, we found some pretty good deals. We got Arianna a few hats, outfits, and a winter coat. The hard part was resisting the urge to immediately have her put them on and wear them rather than wrapping them up for Christmas. I can't say that I've actually wrapped them yet, but she has definitely not worn them. We also got gifts for all of our family members, so (cross your fingers) I think my Christmas shopping is finished. This is definitely the earliest I've gotten my Christmas shopping done!

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten around to decorating. I know, this is the best part of the holiday season. I really really want a real Christmas tree this year, but we just haven't gotten around to going yet. Mike is always at school really late during the week, so maybe we can go this weekend. I think it would be cool to go to a farm and chop one down myself!

For the Relief Society Christmas dinner, we talked about Christmas traditions, and I'm really excited to start some traditions of our own now that we have a little one. I was thinking of making some PJs, but since I severely lack sewing skills I might just make some cookies instead.
We also thought it would be fun to go to the zoo lights or the Polar Express.

What are some of your family traditions?

5 months :)

2010-10-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

We have a thriving 5 month old on our hands...

... and I mean literally "THRIVING"! She is a whooping 17 pounds 4 ounces and just keeps getting bigger and bigger. The rolls are oh so cute!!

She is a precious, precious child who loves to be held. She loves it when we sing songs and loves having conversations. As you can imagine, she LOVES to eat!

She loves to go on walks and just be outdoors. She loves to play, and her favorite toy is a little turtle that plays music. She loves to be read to and really gets excited looking at the pictures.

She loves to throw temper tantrums, and she has definitely not been the easiest baby in the world. I hate to admit it, but sometimes when her face gets red and she starts to cry I think she looks so cute!!!

We love her and can't imagine life without her!!!

Why We LOVE Oregon!

2010-09-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

Green, Green, and MORE Green!!

We sure are enjoying these last few days together before I have to go back to work. At first I was really excited at the fact that I'll be interacting with adults on a regular basis again, but as the dreaded day approaches I have become more emotional and anxious about it. These past 4 months have been the happiest of my life, and I can't bear the thought of missing details from my little one's day. Alas, I know she will be in excellent hands while I am away. Does anyone have advice on how to cope with the transition back to work?

Beary Cherry

2010-08-24T16:43:00.001-07:00

Isn't she the cutest!! Too bad mom keeps torturing her by making her pose with oversized teddy bears. Ahh, she is getting so big so fast!

I know, I'm a slacker

2010-08-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

I really have been severely slacking on the baby postings, but I am going to be more dedicated, because Mike and I have decided that Arianna and I are going to stay with my parents until the end of August. It was kind of a last minute decision, but we decided it would be best given that Mike has to finish his board exams and get our house ready to rent at the same time. It was also really hard for me being home by myself for 14 hours each day. It's definitely going to be hard to be away from him for so long, but I have to keep telling myself that it's for the best. In the meantime, here are a few pictures of the little one. I have a ton on my camera that I'll upload in the next few days, too!

Arianna Earley

2010-05-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

Finally the moment we have all been waiting for...

Introducing...
Arianna Earley
Born May 23, 2010, at 5:58 pm
8 pounds 4 ounces
21 inches long

Mike and I are completely and utterly in love with her! Her birth was not an easy one. My water broke around 11:30 pm Saturday night, and I was in labor for about 19 hours after that. Oddly enough, my water broke just after we finished seeing Date Night at the movie theater. It was a relatively small amount and barely noticeable. On the way home from the movies, I called the on-call doctor at my hospital, and she told me to come in right away. We went home and started gathering items I would need in the hospital in case I would have to stay. My water kept gradually leaking more and more, and I was becoming more and more convinced that this was the real thing. The only thing that kept me guessing was the fact that I hadn't had any contractions that were really painful. In addition, I was a week ahead of my actual due date. Once we arrived at the hospital, my water started gushing. My pants were completely soaked as we went up the elevator, and I was admitted to triage to get checked out. They decided to not check my cervix. They only wanted to test the water to confirm that I was starting labor. We didn't have to wait long to find that it was. The nurse talked to us a little about what would happen once we were admitted to the maternity ward, and then we were officially on our way. The nurses gave me the option of starting labor right then with pitocin, but I decided to forgo that option and try to get some sleep. At around 3 am the contractions started to get more and more intense, and sleep was impossible. I started to get up and walk around a little bit to get more comfortable. My plan was to see how long I could labor drug-free. However, if I needed an epidural, I wasn't opposed to getting one. Mike was a great coach throughout the process helping me with breathing techniques, accompanying me on walks, and massaging my back for me. As the contractions became more and more intense, it became harder and harder for me to focus. It was a hard decision, but at 7:30 am I decided to get an epidural. I was only dialated to a 3 at that point, and felt more disappointed than I thought I would that I wasn't able to labor drug-free. However, I hadn't slept the whole night and was so tired. I didn't see how I could keep going at that point the way my labor was progressing. It was a relief to finally catch up on some sleep.

The nurses came by every few hours to make sure that I was rotating sides I was sleeping on. Our little baby did not like it when I slept on my right side and the heart rate was starting to alarm the nurses. They gave me an oxygen mask for the rest of my labor to make sure the baby was comfortable. By the time I was dialated to a 7, the contractions were getting more and more uncomfortable despite the epidural. By then I had been laboring over 12 hours, and the nurses decided to start a pitocin drip to speed things up. It worked perfectly, and I was dialated to a 10 in no time. by this time the doctor came in and asked if I felt like pushing. I felt a lot of pressure, so I quickly agreed to start trying. The doctors and nurses were great coaches, but I found myself getting discouraged that I wasn't getting anywhere. Throughout the process they were closely monitoring the baby's heart rate and kept me on oxygen. After a while, I noticed that the doctor was becoming more and more uneasy, and exited the room for a few seconds. The nurse I had stayed with me and helped me push. Suddenly, the doctor came back in, told me to stop pushing and that the baby wasn't reacting well to it. Every time I would push, her heart rate went down, and my doctor tole me that they needed to do an emergency C-section right away. Before I had time to digest the information that she was giving me, the doctor wheeled me into the operating room. All I remember after than was everyone telling me not to panic and the doctor telling me that I could still deliver vaginally with future children and to not feel bad that I had to have an epidural. All I could think about was my baby and started crying. I think I cried throughout the whole operation, but I was so grateful that Mike was there with me. After a while I heard the doctor say that the baby's heart rate was stabilizing and that she was coming out. I heard our little baby cry and Mike kept saying over and over that she was such a beautiful baby. I cried and cried tears of joy that she was ok. They laid her into Mike's arms and I was able to meet her for the first time. It was the most overwhelming feeling, and it made the whole experience worth it.

I'll post more pictures soon :)

Baby Arianna's Room

2010-05-17T17:50:00.001-07:00

Baby Girl's Room is finally DONE!! I sure hope she likes pink, because Mom and Dad went a little pink crazy in the room as you can see...

37 Weeks

2010-05-13T00:28:00.000-07:00

(Mike and my trip to Kooza last week, which I would recommend to ANYONE! It was amazing!! Also further proof that I am getting ever so large with child and even more sleep deprived)

On a more positive note, I'm really trying to enjoy these last few weeks, because experienced moms tell me that I will miss it. And I'm taking this sleep deprivation that I'm experiencing as practice for when the baby comes.

I feel good about this. It's like I'm turning over a new leaf :) No more cranky Anna (I have to repeat this to myself multiple times a day).

All kidding aside, I'm really anxious for this baby to get here and can't wait to meet her. I've had a lot of time to think about what kind of a parent I would like to be. I've been reading all of these books that have great parenting tips and ideas, but at the end of the day I just really want to be a good mom, teach my child the gospel, and always puts family first. Broad, I know, but that's what I want more than anything. I hope I'm making some sense since it is really late, and I'm not sure how coherent I am at this point.

Anyway, thanks for listening! Any tips on being a first-time parent would be greatly appreciated :)

Q&A

2010-05-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

I came across this survey on a friend's blog, and it looked like a lot of fun. Plus, I really need something to do since this baby is keeping me up way later than I would like to be.

1) Who is your style icon:

I would have to go with Audrey Hepburn , because her look is so simple, classic, and put together. Plus, I'm a sucker for the little black dress.
2) What is your favorite socialite lit book?

I had to google this one, because I wasn't really sure what it meant. Even after googling it, I'm still not sure, so I'm assuming it means chick book. It's not really my genre of choice, but I remember reading this book in high school and being completely obsessed with it:

I remember reading it several times and bawling my eyes out at the end every time. I didn't even mind the movie that much. Cheesy, I know.

3) Favorite party theme:

I have always wanted to go to a Harry Potter movie marathon party, like the kind Jim Carrey went to in the movie "Yes Man". I know it's nerdy, but I think it would be fun to dress up :)

4) Go to Halloween costume:

I can't remember the last time I dressed up for Halloween, but if I ever need a last minute costume, I always opt for either a cowgirl or a Hawaiian costume.

5) Extravagance you can't live without:

I would say my Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue fragrance. It's a little pricey, but I just love the clean scent. However, in my defense, the bottle lasts a really long time and I've actually found it a few times at Ross and TJ Maxx for half the price.
6) Living person you admire:

I'm pretty sure my dad is one of the awesomest people I know. He has accomplished so much in his life on his own, and I really admire how far he has come.

7) Greatest fear:

Wow, this is hard, because I'm a huge whimp, and I am scared of so many things. If I had one thing, it would have to be the dark. I guess I've just seen way to many Dateline and 48 hours mystery episodes where all of the bad things happen to people during the night. The worst is being home alone at night. If Mike is out of town, I have to sleep with all of the lights on and cling to Winston for dear life!

8) Trait you deplore in yourself:

I would have to say my inability to tell people "no". I can't stand it when I know that someone is not happy with me, and I will do ANYTHING to make sure that he/she isn't mad.

9) What talent would you most like to have:

One day I want to be able to talk on the phone and wash dishes at the same time. No matter how hard I try, I just can't do it. I have to stop everything that I'm doing when I'm on the phone and am horrible at multi-tasking.

10) Greatest Achievement:

Definitely passing the CPA exam. That darn test took up a year and a half of my life, but it was oh so worth it! I worked so hard on it, and it made the achievement really meaningful to me.

Now it's your turn :) I'm always curious to see how other people answer these survey questions.

Happy April 15th!!

2010-04-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

Oh my, I can't believe we made it through another tax busy season!! It was one of the hardest that I've been through (due to the pregnancy alone), but it feels so good to see the finished product and have something to show for all of the long hours and hard work. Baby has been a real trooper right up until the end. It must have been really boring with mom sitting in a chair for most of the day :)

This last week it was a little questionnable if we were going to make it or not. Sunday night I noticed a lot more discharge than usual, so I called the doctor to make sure it wasn't anything to be alarmed about. The doctor on call told me to come in right away. I was beginning to worry a little bit, but my husband remained calm and told me that it was probably just a precaution. We arrived at the maternity center at St. Vincent's and ended up having to fill out a ton of paperwork "just in case I ended up staying for a little bit". This made me even more scared, but at least we would get all of this paperwork out of the way before the real deal. We went into a triage and they hooked me up to a monitor where they could monitor the baby's heart rate. After I had been sitting for a while with the monitor going, the nurse came in and said, "do you know that you are having a contraction right now?" I had no idea! I couldn't feel a thing. The nurse did a bunch of tests on me. My cervix wasn't dialated, but she said it was very soft. That means that things may or may not be progressing. I wasn't feeling good at all by this point. I was only 33 weeks, and not ready at this point for the baby to join us. Thankfully, she said that the baby is doing just fine and has a healthy heart rate. That is the most important thing :) After all of the tests were done, the nurse said that she didn't think that I had anything to worry about and was planning on sending me home. However, the doctor had different plans. She said that she wanted to take some precautions and put me on bedrest until my doctor could examine me again. I told her that I was a tax accountant, and being on bedrest during this time would not be ideal. She insisted, and I complied. The baby's well-being is infinitley more important than tax season. I ended up spending all of Monday in bed, and then I was able to get an appointment with a doctor in the evening. The doctor said that I should be fine and gave me the ok to return back to work. However, if I have more than 4 contractions an hour, I was to come back to the hospital immediately.

Since then, I've been trying to take it easy. I haven't had many contractions since, so hopefully I'm good for a little while longer. Each time I look back on this experience, I keep trying to think what I could have done to prevent this. Was I working too many hours at work on top of trying to keep up with family time, church priorities, and signing myself up for more things that I knew I couldn't do? Was I letting myself stress too much about getting our house ready and getting the baby room ready and not allowing myself to just enjoy the experience? If it is something I did, I would have a really hard time forgiving myself for putting my baby in harm's way. I have come to realize that even though we haven't officially met face to face, we have shared so many beautiful moments together already. Through all of the nausea, kicking, heartburn, waddling, etc. we've always been there experiencing it together. She has been my constant companion through all of the good times and the bad, and I genuinely love her so much already.

Anyway, enough of the mushiness... hope everyone has a HAPPY TAX DAY!!!

19 more days...

2010-03-27T13:00:00.001-07:00

UNTIL TAX SEASON IS OVER!

I really don't have much to say other than that, and I feel a tinge guilty for not keeping up on the blog.

But the most important countdown of all is ...

9 MORE WEEKS UNTIL BABY COMES!! HEHE

(at least tax season has helped this date fly by)

I promise I'll post more pictures of the nursery and my very pregnant self soon :)

It's Official...

2010-03-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

Less than one month left of busy season! Boy, has this one been a doozey. Every year it seems to start earlier and earlier, and it just seems to drag on and on. Needless to say, I am so ready for it to be over. There is still so much that needs to be accomplished between now and April 15th, but I can check one thing off my list. Each year I have filed my taxes on April 15th or a couple days before. Sad, huh? However, this year I actually got my act together and we filed our taxes last week. It's been torture waiting for our refund, but it feels oh so good to have that out of the way. Now, if only I can find someway to keep my house clean and prevent my husband from eatting cereal everynight, we will be good to go. I don't think that will happen anytime soon, but if I can file my taxes before April 15th, anything is possible, right?

Baby Ariana

2010-02-23T18:38:00.000-08:00

Wahoo! Baby Girl finally has a name!! We had a few names in mind, but this one just seemed to fit perfectly. We love her so much already and can't wait to meet her.

For The Curious :)

2010-02-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

I apologize for being such a slacker and neglecting to post the gender of our little one, though many of you know already. We were so excited to find out that our baby is a GIRL!!! I can hardly wait to go shopping for cute pink things, and Mike is excited to one day get her a pair of pink golf clubs :) Watch out Tiger Woods, because I think you'll have some competition in the near future.

We went to the outlets in Woodburn to try and find her some cute clothes. My mom has been calling our daughter "Bunny" until we decide on a name for her, so I thought these PJs would be appropriate...

I also found this cute little pink dress at Carter's. I just love any dress that has a sweater to go with it!

Up until now, I've been procrastinating posting any pregnant pictures. I guess I'm still in denial over how big my butt and thighs are getting. Jeans are really not that comfortable for me anymore, and I would much rather wear sweats all day. Alas, it's all part of the experience and I just keep reminding myself that I'm growing a baby.

Here I am at about 11 weeks. I was SOOO sick and SOOO tired. I'm glad those days are behind me :) Well, maybe not the tired part...

Here I am today at 26 weeks!!!

These pictures were taken in our little girl's room. I'll have to post pictures when it is all done. I never really saw myself as a "pink" person, but once I found out our baby was a girl I couldn't help myself.

This next picture doesn't really have anything to do with this post, but I think it's so cute! Kinda shows you what Winston thinks of this whole ordeal...

I think he will be a good "big brother"

What Do You Think?

2009-12-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

January 14th is the big day! The day we get to find out the gender of our little one. I have my suspicions, but wanted to see what you thought. Please vote on the sidebar :)

Grumpy Christmas Post

2009-12-16T07:21:00.001-08:00

I hate admit it, but I kind of feel like a bit of a Scrooge this year. Last year, I was so on top of things. Mike and I had our pictures taken by a friend and had Christmas cards made at Costco. They turned out really cute, so we bought 50 of them and sent them to everyone that we could think of. So sorry to all of the random people that I haven't spoken to in so long that we sent a Christmas card to, BTW. I made little Christmas cookie jars as gifts for friends, coworkers, and friends in the ward. I spent hours decorating my house and shopping for the perfect presents for people. Mike and I had been planning and budgeting Christmas months in advance, and we were able to get Christmas shopping done in record time last year. Plus, we were able to get some killer deals on things.

Alas, this year has been a completely different story. I promise I started off the holiday season so well, because I actually had my Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving. But it all went downhill from there. I was planning to have our pictures taken for Christmas cards, but I kept putting it off to the next day. I was just too tired and cranky after I got home from work for a month straight. So, no Christmas cards this year :( I was going to make Christmas cookies as gifts to friends, coworkers, and ward members, but just never got around to it. Maybe it's not too late to buy some cookies from Albertsons and say that I made them. The Christmas gifts have been the most disappointing thing. Mike and I waited until last week to put together a budget and a list of what we were going to get everyone. Since we started so late, it seems like all of the good deals are gone and we won't be able to get exactly what we wanted for everyone. The worst thing was when I decided to make presents for my neices. I actually spent a lot of time shopping for the materials, but the project has taken me quite a bit longer than I actually thought it would at first. Now it's almost Christmas, and their presents are not even close to being done. Bah Humbug!!!

In the end, I say bring on 2010 please!!! 2009 sucked big time!!!!

Mikey Mike

2009-12-09T20:36:00.000-08:00

(Warning: This post is most likely the result of crazy pregnancy hormones. I'm really mushy about everything nowadays)

I am so glad that you listen to me rant and rave about every little thing that happens to me in a day. I know you try very hard not to say anything.

I really appreciate the way you laugh at my jokes and funny stories, even though I'll admit sometimes they can be really lame.

I love the way you let me wear your sweaters, socks, and pretty much every other clothing item, because I'm too lazy to do laundry sometimes.

Thank you for putting up with my crazy work schedule.

I'm so grateful that you don't get too mad at me when you find out that I "accidentally" use your razor to shave my legs.

I really like that you watch Desparate Housewives with me and pretend to be totally into the story eventhough you probably could care less.

I love how you can always make me laugh when I am sad.

I feel so lucky to have a husband who is willing to clean up my throw up in a wide variety of environments including the car, the parking lot, a snorkel boat in Hawaii, etc.

I adore the little dances you do to the theme songs of your favorite TV Shows when they come on.

I love you Mike, and I have no idea what I would do without you!

Baby Earley

2009-12-02T07:35:00.001-08:00

This is our very first picture of our little addition! Boy or Girl, I still think it's kinda cute :)

Thanksgiving

2009-10-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

So, the parental units are making the long journey from Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Portland, Oregon, to spend Thanksgiving with us. I am beyond thrilled! I don't get to see the fam that often. However, I am a little nervous about cooking "The Big Dinner"

This is the image I have been daydreaming about for the last two weeks. I really want to go all out and have the ginormous turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and so on. However, I have to be real with myself and accept the possibility that the dinner may turn out like this:

I've never really been gifted in the kitchen. Anyway, if any of you have any recipes for a turkey that have worked really well, please let me know. I would be forever in your debt, and I know for a fact that my family will love you for it, too!!

Lessons from Primary

2009-09-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

I have been teaching the six year olds in Primary ever since we moved to Portland. I really enjoy my calling. It's so rewarding when the kids tell me scripture stories that they remember from class and are visibly excited to get baptised and go on missions. We have a lot of fun together, and there have been many memorable days. Sure, some days the lesson is on tithing and we all somehow get sidetracked talking about lose teeth and the Tooth Fairy, but I figure that it is all part of the experience. There is one particular day that I remember quite fondly.

I can't really remember what the lesson was on, but there was a story in the manual about a girl that was sick and her friend decided to bring her chicken noodle soup to help her get better. Once I was finished telling the story, one of my students raised his hand to say something.

Me: Did you have something to share, Bobby (*name has been changed to protect the innocent :) *)

Bobby: Yes, Sister Earley, I have something to say.

Me: Go ahead, Bobby. (Pleased that the little boy had raised his hand).

Bobby: I just want to say that I have a sickness, too.

Me: Oh, dear. That is not good. Do you need me to take you to your parents?

Bobby: No, I don't think so.

Me: Ok, well, just let me know if you need me to take you to your mom. I hope you start feeling better.

Bobby: Me too.

I attempt to continue with the lesson, when Bobby raises his hand once more.

Me: Yes, Bobby.

Bobby: I would like to tell you about my sickness now.

Me: (slightly unsure where this is going to go) Ok, Bobby. As long as it's not too detailed.

Bobby: (With the most serious face) It's ... diarrhea.

Wow, wasn't expecting that one. I don't know what it is about excrement that is so funny, but I tried the hardest I could not to laugh. It didn't work. My face went red and I had to look away so that he would not see me. My husband was co-teaching with me that particular day and looked at me in absolute horror. He clearly did not find it as funny as I did.

Bobby politely raises his hand again.

Me: (Desperately trying to compose myself) Yes, Bobby.

Bobby: It's not nice to laugh at people that are sick.

Me: Your right, Bobby. It's not. I am so sorry.

That sad thing is that out of a room filled with six year olds, I was the only one laughing. Who is the mature one in this situation? Clearly, I have a long way to go.

Adventures at the DMV

2009-07-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

So, I have a confession to make.

This is a good one...

Ready

I have been living in Oregon for almost two years without an Oregon drivers license.

I'm pretty sure this is illegal on a variety of levels

... but it gets better...

I recently discovered that my Utah license has been expired for 6 months!

That's right...

6 MONTHS!

OOPS!!

I know, extremely illegal!

But to my defense, I really think that someone should send you a letter or email to prevent this from happening. Oh well.

This leads me to my wonderful adventure at the DMV. This has got to be one of the worst places to be in the world next to the dentists office. I was really dreading it, but luckily my wonderful husband agreed to keep me company for the whole day. Sucka! Anyway, I made sure that I prepared myself. I went to the website and made a list of all of the documents that I needed to bring. Old drivers license, SSN Card, utility bill... pretty standard, I thought. But just in case, because I certainly did not want this to be an all day affair, I packed my passport, birth certificate from Canada, birth certificate from US, marriage licenses... You name it, I brought it. Or so I thought.

I was feeling pretty good when we got into the car to go to the DMV. I felt prepared. We plugged the address to the DMV into out GPS and were on our way. We ended up driving to a residential area. Clearly, not the DMV. So we tried calling the office to get directions. The lady that answered the phone informed us that the GPS does not work for this particular location and that we had to follow instructions online. Oh my, this will be fun. The directions were extremely hard to follow. Here is an example:

'Just past OR-217 before the railroad tracks, turn RIGHT (North) on the connector road.'

No clue what a connector road is. Needless to say, we got very lost.

We finally made it to our destination after a half hour of driving, and I was already irritated. Luckily, we had brought every document that we owned under the sun, so we would be ok. Wrong. First, my drivers license was expired, so we had to revert back to my passport (I was really glad I brought that. Genius, Anna!) However, my passport was in my maiden name. They told us that they needed something else to make the connection that the two names were in fact the same person. Remembered the marriage license. Yes! I knew I brought that for a reason!! However, the gentleman told us that the marriage license was not an official license. I couldn't believe it! Mike and I tried to explain to him that this was the only license that we had and that we had ever received. The gentleman didn't seem very sympathetic and repeated that he needed a marriage license issued by the state. He went as far as to say that it looked like the most fake marriage license that he had ever seen. Maybe the whole "For Time and Eternity" thing through him off. Anyway, I was livid! Luckily, another lady that overheard our conversation informed the man that the drivers license can be expired for a year and they will still consider it valid for identification purposes. Crisis averted!! However, I think I should check into getting a state issued marriage license. I guess I just assumed that if it was accepted in Utah, it was accepted everywhere. My bad!

Wait, the story gets better. On to the proof of residency. Now, I'll admit that I didn't really check the utility bill that I had grabbed for a date. I just grabbed the first bill that I saw and left the house. However, the bill that I provided the employee was 3 months old. The employee reminded me that the bill must be no more than 2 months old, and that I needed to go back home and get a newer bill. I couldn't believe it! The last thing I wanted to do was to drive back home, come back, and wait in line for another eternity. But you gotta do what you gotta do. So, we went back home, came back, and went through the whole deal again.

On the bright side, I am no longer breaking the law, and my driver's license picture didn't turn out half bad :)

My Two Boys

2009-06-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

Here We Go Again

2009-06-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

It never fails. Every time I take time off from work, I end up getting sick. Bummer!! Yesterday I woke up with a sore throat, and it has gotten progressively worse since then. It's hard not to feel down when things don't go as planned, but there are some positives to being down and out for a little while. For instance, Mike has been doing a very good job and taking care of me. I get to lay on the couch and watch movies with my dog. Also, I have an excuse to sleep all day if I want to. Maybe this won't be so bad :)

New Moon Trailer

2009-06-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

I'm so Excited!!

Note to Self ...

2009-05-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

... Need to make LOTS of $$$ so that I can spend my days shopping on Etsy.

I love this bag!!

Don't even get me started on the jewlery... SO PRETTY!!

I wonder if Santa Claus could come in June...

Heart Walk 2009

2009-05-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Mike and I participated in the American Heart Association Walk to raise money for research for heart disease. It was part of an activity that I was involved in at work. It was a beautiful day, and we really enjoyed ourselves. I'm always up for any event that has "walking" and not "running" in the title. This particular walk allowed you to bring dogs, and there were a lot of dogs there! Winston was in heaven!! He made a lot of new friends that day.

I can't even begin to describe how happy I am that summer is finally here in Oregon (I hope I don't jinx myself by saying that). It is truly the best time of the year to live here. I am even more excited that summer is here, because Mike decided to take the summer off from chiropractic school. It is a much deserved break for both of us! I know that he was getting a little overwhelmed with all of his classes, and this will give him time to recharge. Although, I am a little worried, because he has already made a list of various projects that he wants to accomplish during his break. Seriously, the man can not relax. Not that I have room to talk! Anyway, I think this will give us time to sit back and enjoy life again. We can go places, and spend time together as a family!! Yay!!

My Green Thumb

2009-05-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

... Well, not exactly. I really want to be good at gardening, and I am so proud of myself that I haven't killed any of my plants so far. Granted, it's only been a few months since I have planted, but I'll take what I can get. Here are some pictures...

If I just remember to water them everyday, I think I'll be ok. But regardless of the outcome, I've just had fun being outside in this wonderful, warm weather that we have been having in Portland lately. Actually, there is one other person that probably had more fun than I did. I bet you can guess who that is...

Yes, I think Winston was the happiest of all.

Study, study, study

2009-05-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

Can I just say that I am so over it...

Happy Anniversary

2009-05-08T21:04:00.001-07:00

Est. May 7, 2005

Auntie Anna

2009-04-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

I have to say that I am completely in love with my nieces and nephews. During our recent trip to Idaho, I was able to spend a lot of time with them and loved every minute of it. Here are some pictures...

Ahhh, so much pressure for the husband and I to have cute children!!

Farewell Friend

2009-04-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives -Anon.

There is something about death that really makes one stop and think about life and living it to the fullest. Our beloved Grandpa ("Big Papa") Anderson passed away on April 16 from complications associated with old age. He was 87 years old and lived a full and exciting life. We will miss him dearly. My hope is that our little family can live the rest of our lives in a way that will make him proud. I am so greatful for the Plan of Salvation, and the knowledge that I have that families can be together forever. I know that we will meet again someday, and the reunion will be glorious!

A Few of My Favorite Things

2009-03-14T08:37:00.000-07:00

After my somewhat depressing post yesterday, I felt that I needed to post something a little more lighthearted. Ere go one of my favorite things in the world, Bolthouse Farms Fruit Smoothies. They are rather pricey at about $4.99 a bottle, but they are a great splurge item. It's hard to find a treat that is delicious and nutritious for you, so that's how I justify buying them every once and awhile. My favorite flavor is Strawberry Banana! They also have some veggie juices, if you like that sort of thing, that aren't bad either. Granted, homemade smoothies would be the best by far, but these are a great alternative if you are "challenged" in the kitchen, like myself.

Another one of my favorite things is Internet radio! Don't get me wrong, I am in love with my Ipod, but I need to get inspiration from somewhere and Internet radio does the trick. Plus, it's free! You can't go wrong with free!! Some of my favorite sights are Launchcast and Pandora. Pandora is really cool, because they try to cater to your interests. If you don't like a song, they will never play it again and you can share your station that you make with friends. Wahoo! I made a station entirely of musicals and I love it. It's my way of preparing to see Wicked in April.

I really debated about putting this one down, because it's kinda embarrassing, and it's probably not the most wholesome show on television. I really love the show Gossip Girl. Yes, the characters are really melodramatic and they have all sorts of problems being rich and all that, but the show is addicting once you get into it. Plus, some of the clothes are really cute. At least the modest ones are.

So, there you have it! What are some of your favorite things?

Random Ramblings

2009-03-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

I think one of the many benefits of having a blog is being able to write what you want, however random it may seem. Today has just been one of those difficult days where I just wonder if I am doing anything positive in my life at the moment. Sure I save the world, one tax return at a time by day, but have I really accomplished anything special or made a difference in someone's life for the better. I feel like all that I think about each day is myself, and I want to be better at focusing on others and what I can do to help the world be a better place. A recent example that I can think of is that I've really wanted to start a family with my husband for a while, but I second guess myself all of the time and wonder if I am doing it for the right reason. Is it really time for me, or am I just lonely and want to be a part of all of those play dates that go on in my ward and other fun activities that mothers do. Am I being selfish, or am I thinking of others. That's the question that I've been asking myself lately after every decision that I make and it's SO frustrating.

One thing is for certain, I know I have to just try to enjoy the moments as they happen and just learn to find joy in the day-to-day experiences that life brings. Yeah, I work all of the time and I've been tired and cranky a lot lately, but I need to just stop and think about all of the blessings that I have. There are so many when you stop and think about it. My husband and I listen to public radio when we drive to work and school in the mornings, and there was a story on the radio about a woman in France. France has been hit pretty hard by the economic downturn and a lot of people are resorting to searching through trash cans for food. Each day, the marketplaces throw away any produce that has not been sold and the radio station was interviewing a woman that was going through the trashcan. She was telling them about how she knows if fruit is good or bad and about the different things that you could do with fruit to make it last longer. This was a woman who, not too long ago, owned a home, had a job, and did not worry about where her next meal was going to come from. The story touched me so deeply. There are so many things that go on in the world today that we just don't know anything about. I believe with every fiber of my being that the time is now, when our character will be tested. I guess that is why I am so hard on myself at times. The world is so big and there are so many things that don't have a solution. I just need to do the best I can with the situation that I'm in and pray my hardest that those people that are suffering will be comforted and healed.

Oh, Happy Day

2009-02-24T08:31:00.001-08:00

The most exciting thing happened to me yesterday! I went to the Soda Machine at work to get a Diet Coke, and I got one for free. The machine spit my money back out right after it gave me my soda. Further proof that the Heavenly Father knows me and loves me!! Alas, it was not caffeine-free Diet Coke, but I think He made an exception that day.

What Not To Wear

2009-02-20T20:34:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking a lot about clothes lately. Yes, clothes (... and pretty much anything else besides taxes at this point). I've mainly been thinking about how how much importance is placed on clothes. Don't get me wrong, I really love shopping. Also, I really appreciate those gifted individuals that have a sort of sixth sense as to what looks good on you and what doesn't. I wish I was one of those people. Alas, I think that I am forever stuck on "Frumpville" as my uber stylish sisters call it. Yes, it's true that I can't seem to let go of my over sized sweaters and sweatpants. But it's not like I wear it to the store, although now that I think about it I may have worn them once or twice. When it comes down to it, it's a lot easier to find frumpy clothes, because you don't have to worry about frumpy clothes fitting you properly. We can't all have Stacy London with us on every shopping trip picking out clothes for us and being brutally honest if something doesn't look good. And we all don't have endless amounts of money to spend. So what do we do? I say, at the end of the day, pick out something you love. Wear those hammer pants and suspenders with pride! Others can think what they want, but the only thing that matters is how we see ourselves.

Mr. Earley Goes to Washington

2009-02-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

This month Mike will be going to Washington DC for a week to lobby for chiropractic as part of a school organization that he is a part of. I am really excited for him, because I don't think he has been to Washington DC before. Neither have I for that matter, so I told him that he would have to take lots of pictures. However, there is a part of me that is a little sad that he will be away for so long. I don't sleep well when he is gone, and I'm already sleep deprived as it is. I guess I just have to make the best of the situation, and maybe it won't be so bad after all. He could run into President Obama and that would just be cool!

I've finally become fed up with how lazy I have become since moving to Portland, so I've decided that I'm going to start becoming active and participating in some of the fun events that Portland has. My first venture is to run a 5K in the Shamrock Run in March. I've honestly never done a 5K before, but my husband did it last year and he had so much fun. I was there as well, but I was just holding his friends' coats and freezing my butt off waiting for him to finish, so it wasn't that much fun for me. Also, I've been slacking on my New Year's Resolutions and think that I need to do something drastic to redeem myself. I figure if I make it through the race without passing out it will be a big success!!

25 Random Things...

2009-01-28T07:19:00.000-08:00

My friend, Mandy, tagged me on Facebook to write 25 random things about myself. I must say, it's really difficult to come up with a list of 25 items, but I will do my best. Here it goes:

1. I am double jointed in my thumb. I can bend one of my thumbs back pretty far. I actually didn't realize that I was double jointed until I got married, and Mike told me that not everyone could bend their thumbs back that far. Now that I think about it, it is pretty disgusting.

2. I am an obsessive reader. My favorites are from the Jane Austen time period and genre. No matter how many times I read and watch Pride and Prejudice, I never get sick of it. Also, I prefer the longer movie with Colin Firth as opposed to the newer movie. Sorry Mandy :(

3. I am an introvert at heart. I have to force myself to go out and be social at times, and I think I have a little phone phobia. I don't like the way my voice sounds on the phone, and would rather communicate via email or text. Nerdy, I know...

4. I really like my job. Even though the hours are really long at times and let's face it no one really dreams about being a tax accountant, I really feel challenged by my profession. However, ask me the same question in a couple of months, and I may have a different answer.

5. I really like doing crafty things. Sometimes my projects don't turn out the way I initially envisioned, but I really love creating new things and coming up with new ideas.

6. I am always on the prowl for the perfect banana bread recipe. I love banana bread so much and I must have tried over a dozen recipes. However, I haven't found one that has turned out just right. If any of you have any suggestions, please let me know!

7. My husband calls me the most organized disorganized person. Let me explain... I really like to clean, but my philosophy is "out of sight out of mind". As long as I can't see it, I'm fine with it. This includes shoving things in closets and in various drawers. I need to get over that one.

8. I lose my keys at least once a day, and my phone twice a day.

9. I love musicals! Any kind of musical. It's the one thing that I splurge on. I'm so excited to finally see Wicked in March!!

10. I have three nationalities. My father was born and raised in Iran, and my mother is American. Plus, my sister and I were born in Canada.

11. My favorite show is the Office. Strange, but I somehow feel like I can identify with some of the characters. Plus, Steve Carrell is really funny.

12. I love children. I don't have any of my own yet, but hopefully someday I will be able to have a big family. My plan is to have two of my own and then adopt the rest. Also, I want the children that I adopt to be older. It seems like there are so many older children that need a good home.

13. I am proud to be a Mormon. I joined the LDS Church when I was 18 years old, in large part due to a friend's influence. She was such a good example to me of living the doctrines that are taught by the church. I would go into her home, and I would feel something different, something good. I love that families can be together forever and that we have a prophet that leads us and guides us today.

14. I love my husband. Sometimes I think that we are complete opposites and came from two totally different worlds, but we both make each other stronger and better. I can't imagine life without him :)

15. I used to be obsessed over the game Monopoly. I had a friend back in grade school and we used to play Monopoly everyday. My dad bought my a Monopoly computer game, and I would play the game all day. I guess this obsession is what sparked my interest in accounting.

16. I'm still a little bit afraid of the dark. Dorky, I know...

17. I hope that one day I can become just like my mom. She is my hero!

18. If I could meet one person, dead or alive, it would be Ghandi. He's peaceful disposition and his example inspires me.

19. I think I could pretty much live off of pizza. I know it's not very good for me, but I can't help myself. My favorite kind of pizza is pepperoni with pineapple.

20. I would love to go to Italy one day. There is so much history there and I think it would be absolutely beautiful.

21. Before I die, I want to go to Iran and be able to meet all of my family.

22. Another life goal is to be able to wash dishes and talk on the phone at the same time. I don't know why this is so hard for me, but I've never been able to do the two at once.

23. I really admire people who stand up for what they believe in, even if they stand alone. Some of our greatest figures in history stood alone, and our world would not be the place it is without them.

24. I definitely have a sweet tooth. My favorite candy is peanut butter M&M's

25. Now it's your turn...

Yes We Can!

2009-01-23T21:17:00.000-08:00

So, I didn't mean for this blog to be political, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to comment on this historic election. Whether you are Democrat, Republican, or Independent I think everyone can agree that this was indeed an important turning point in our history. I have been an Obama supporter for a while, but it wasn't the fact that I am a Democrat that drew me to him. It was the fact that he truly inspired me that we don't have to accept life's circumstances as they are. We truly have a voice in this world, and we can change it for the better if we work together. I am amazed that a man who was raised by his grandparents and grew up in a home with no social connection or stature could rise up and become a voice in a movement that changed how so many viewed the world. He inspired so many to vote for the first time and become involved in their future. There are so many terrible things that go on in the world today. So many are suffering and barely hanging on through life's trials. I'm not sure what the future holds or if things will get better anytime soon. I can't even say for certainty that Obama can fix all of our problems. However, I do have something now that I know will get me though the hard times ahead. Hope! A hope for a brighter future and a hope for the dawn of a new day. I believe in the goodness of others despite all of the wickedness in the world today. I believe that we will be rewarded beyond measure in the end of it all if we are true and faithful to what we know and cherish in life. This is why I am so happy to be starting something new. I wish our new president the best of luck in the times ahead!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-10T09:55:00.001-08:00

Before I completely drop off the face of the Earth due to the beginning of tax season, I needed to make sure that I uploaded this cute picture of my little nephew on New Years Eve. We ended up spending New Years at Mike's mom's house in Idaho watching movies, eating pizza, and playing dress up with my mother-in-law's impressive collection of New Years hats! It was a blast!!

For now, Mike and I are just trying to get back into the swing of things. Since Mike's classes were cancelled due to the strange weather that we had a few weeks ago, he has been trying to make up all of his finals this week on top of school work. I don't know how he does it, but I am very impressed that he is able to stay so calm and collected. Must be a male thing. Meanwhile, I am trying to keep up on housework and other small things before the storm hits. Try is the keyword! I tried to do the same thing last busy season and it didn't quite work out. By April 15, it looked like a tornado had been through our house, and my poor husband was reduced to eating cereal for dinner almost every night. Hopefully, things won't be as bad this year.

On a more positive note, we ordered the November General Conference DVDs a few weeks ago. We were able to watch the first few last Sunday and it has made such a difference in our Sabbath day observance. I am embarrassed to say that is one area that I struggle with (I blame it on Desperate Housewives BTW). I'm hoping that we could order more church videos when we are finished with General Conference to fill the rest of our Sundays. I am really open to suggestions if anyone has activities that work for their family!

A Happy Holiday Season, Indeed

2008-12-31T08:53:00.001-08:00

Our little family had a wonderful Christmas this year! To think, it almost didn't happen. My husband was determined to go on a cruise for the holiday season. Don't get me wrong, a cruise would have been unbelievably fun, but I was really looking forward to spending our break with family and friends. It took me a long time to convince Mike that a Christmas in Idaho and Utah would be unforgettable, but he eventually succumbed. At the end of the day, we are both glad that we were able to spend the holiday season with the people who matter most. If you are wondering what happened to the cruise, I promised Mike that we would go on a cruise next summer. I think it would be more fun to go when it's warm anyway.

As for the new year, I wanted to try something a little different. Believe it or not, I've never actually made a new year's resolution. I always thought that it was a little crazy that people come up with impossible goals for the new year and then sit by and do nothing about them. Also, a part of me knows that I would fall into that same category. Nevertheless, this year I will find out for myself if I am able to carry out my new year's resolutions. I started composing a list last night. I figured that I would start by writing down everything that I could think of that I would like to improve about myself. When I was finished, my list was thirty items long. Evidently I have a lot of work to do. I decided that thirty items was a little overkill, so I narrowed my list down to the following three items:

Try to workout at least two times a week (my body is not what it used to be)
Have a date night with my husband every week
Finish my CPA exam

Hopefully, these goals will keep my busy in 2009. At least now that they are out there in the open, you can hold me accountable for keeping them!

Blast from the Past

2008-12-22T21:26:00.001-08:00

So, it's always fun when you are home for the holidays to look at pictures of when you were younger. I recently had a birthday, and my father put a slide show together of such images. Here are a few of them. I apologize in advance to my sisters if some of these are considered "embarrassing".

My favorite has to be the one where I am trying to pry open the Pepsi can with my teeth. Oh, if only I could have stayed so innocent. Then maybe I wouldn't be so addicted to Diet Coke. The other funny thing is that I think my mother still has that awful blue and pink winter coat in our closet. Yes, I was stylin' back then! Overall, it's nice to look back and see how cute you were as a baby, how weird and awkward you were as an adolescent (I left those photos out on purpose BTW), and how much you miss those times when you had absolutely no responsibilities. Still, there are some perks to getting older. Hopefully, I've learned from my mistakes and can say that I'm a little smarter than I was back then. That is the hope. In the end, all I can say is that I am so grateful to have been raised by such good parents and that I had the companionship of two great sisters. You have made me who I am today, and I can't imagine having gone through it all without you.

Back in Style

2008-12-19T08:10:00.000-08:00

So, I finally decided to get caught back up with the times and start a blog. It really seems like a fun way to keep in touch with family and friends. Since we are so far away from family and friends at the moment, it would be nice for them to have some way to stay on top of life's happenings. Sadly, our little family seems consumed with work and school as of late, with little time for anything else. However, I told myself recently that I was going to try to make time each week to disconnect from life's stresses. Life's too short to miss out on all of the simple joys. Here's hoping that this year's early New Year's resolution will be a big success!! With that said, here is a recent family pictures that was taken of us lately. I think our photographer did a wonderful job, and it was nice being able to include our dog in the picture. It was definitely tricky getting him to sit still, since I think he has a little A.D.D., but we made it work somehow. I'm sure we took close to a hundred photos and there were only three where he was actually looking at the camera and not licking himself in some unsightly location. To make it even more fun, there were a lot of people walking there pets in the park where we were taking the pictures. Our dog is definitely very social, and each time he saw another furry friend he took off running to say hello. He is definitely a Marley, if any of you have read the book, but we love him.