You won't even believe where I am writing this post from and more importantly you won't even believe why. I am currently in a Marriott just down the street from my house. I live here for the moment. Why, you ask. Oh, that would be because my house flooded! Belee' dat! :D
On Wednesday night I got home from what seemed like the longest day of work in the history of work. I was so excited to be done with work because the next day we were heading to California for a wonderful Christmas time. I wanted a night full of relaxation (with a little bit of laundry and packing thrown in). I was so happy when I got home and then Ryan said, "You won't be too happy when you go see what is in the kitchen." So I look past him into the kitchen and see water all over the floor and towels laid over it to try to sop it up. Ry said the dishwasher had broken. Bummer. I decided to do more investigation and found there were big puddles in the bathroom too! We did some more investigation and found that the owner's side of the basement was more flooded than our side. I think I would rather have the dishwasher break because the next 5 hours was trying to shop-vac the water up and getting all our stuff off the ground (which meant up to their garage!). We were up till about 1 am tearing carpet up and eventually just letting the water win because we could not keep up. It was rough packing from the garage and finding clean clothes to bring because I had no time or the place to do laundry. It was nice to simply leave to sunny CA and "forget about it" for a couple of days. However, then we came back and not much had changed. Yes, there was no more water but everything is still torn up and fans are drying out the place. So here we are in the Marriott. I think we'll have to go swimming tonight just because we can. Complimentary breakfast is the best too. But my favorite thing about staying in a hotel are the great curtains that keep the sunlight out forever so I can sleep in as long as I want! It's a great thing!!! So we are hoping that our house is fixed soon, but in the meantime, it isn't too bad taking a mini-vacation!
12/30/10
12/13/10
Aspirations
Today I was driving home from work and saw a billboard that said this:
If you're a nurse, aspiration means something totally different to you than it does here in this billboard. So since I had just spent the last 13 and 1/2 hours thinking about nursing related subjects, I thought to myself, "Why are they talking about aspiration on a billboard? Like a person who could drive a car could actually aspirate!!!" Ya, I've been at work too much lately!!
Turn your ASPIRATIONS into REALITY
If you're a nurse, aspiration means something totally different to you than it does here in this billboard. So since I had just spent the last 13 and 1/2 hours thinking about nursing related subjects, I thought to myself, "Why are they talking about aspiration on a billboard? Like a person who could drive a car could actually aspirate!!!" Ya, I've been at work too much lately!!
12/4/10
Quilt Camp
I saw this really cute pattern at the quilt shop the other day and I just knew I had to make it. It was just too cute! I bought the pattern and only then did I realize it was not a blanket... It was actually a table-topper. Oh well, I still wanted to try to make it. I used some of the same fabrics I used in Olivia's quilt (found here) and picked up some new ones too and made this little beauty. All in a day's work too. (Yes, by the end my back and hands were definitely hurting, but I only bled once!) It is a nice little addition to our table, although every time we eat it has to be moved, but it is still fun nonetheless. It is so far from perfect but I kinda like it that way, it gives it character. Maybe I'll make it a seasonal thing and make some for each season. We'll see!
11/28/10
Gavin Turns ONE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GAV!!
This is Gavin's shy look. He didn't appreciate everyone looking at him. He likes to hid behind his little arms! It is adorable!!
This is Gavin's shy look. He didn't appreciate everyone looking at him. He likes to hid behind his little arms! It is adorable!!
He needed some liquid so he could keep going on his own little cupcake. It took him a while to understand what he was supposed to do with his own cupcake but once he figured out is was actually OK for him to get messy, he was a pro at it!! 
This is what you get when you tell Gavin to "Give me kisses!" He loves to give us all loves!!! 
Smashing that blue cupcake in his face!!! (Like I said, once he figured it out, he was a pro!)
Holding up our present to him. It looks like he is saying, "Hey, look what I got!!" 
In his rocking chair made especially for him by Grandpa Gardner! It is so cute, I just might ask for a full-size one for me and Ry! (Just kidding!)
Gavin had such a fun birthday. We were so glad we were able to make it to see him turn ONE!! What a big boy he is becoming! We love you Gav!!!11/17/10
11/6/10
Sophomore Year Reunion
We had so much fun yesterday with these fun girls! My sophomore year at BYU was one of the best and it was definitely because of these fun girls (plus one who was too busy being pregnant in Ohio to make it... darn it BECCA!). We had the best apartment. It was on the ground level and the window from the living room opened up to the parking lot right outside and we had no screen so people would just knock on the window and jump through to come see us! (Sounds totally weird but when you're in college, it was great). We always had people at our apartment and one of our favorite things to do was to play nertz. It was this year that we would play at least once a week and we would have about 10 teams of people playing (that is 20 people total). It was the best and the games would go by so fast! I totally miss those days. Last night we had so much fun talking about old memories and just remembering fun times. We ate pizookie and played some good old nertz! It was so much fun. I hope we get to see these girls more often! Love them!
Lauren is so darn funny, I just love her!
These girls are my favorite!
Apparently the front row only got the memo of making funny faces...
Love them... Brooke, Me, and Lauren enjoying the Pizookie
Tarali Marie
Pizookie with Brooke, Lauren, and Mel
The delicious Pizookie!
Lauren is so darn funny, I just love her!
These girls are my favorite!
Apparently the front row only got the memo of making funny faces...
Love them... Brooke, Me, and Lauren enjoying the Pizookie
Tarali Marie
Pizookie with Brooke, Lauren, and Mel
10/27/10
Pumpkins
This year I carved pumpkins with my good friend Rach! Love that girl. It was a really fun time and we got very very creative! :)
Us with our finished products.
You can see in the background what Ryan was doing during our girl party... BASEBALL!
Getting started...
This is where we were pretty creative. We used the cookie cutter to cut the top off of Rach's pumpkin. It was a lot harder than it looks. It required a hammer and a wrench to get the cookie cutter out once we got it in. It was pretty comical.
All in all, it was a great Halloween!
Me with my shape pumpkin
Us with our finished products.
You can see in the background what Ryan was doing during our girl party... BASEBALL!
Getting started...
This is where we were pretty creative. We used the cookie cutter to cut the top off of Rach's pumpkin. It was a lot harder than it looks. It required a hammer and a wrench to get the cookie cutter out once we got it in. It was pretty comical.
All in all, it was a great Halloween!10/26/10
10/20/10
The Best is Yet to Come
"We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come." L. Tom Perry
10/16/10
Confessions
Today, I got off work early, around noon. I headed to Provo to hang out with anyone who would make last minute time for me (thanks Tarali). On my way there, what did I pass? Yes, the ever-craved Krispy Kreme Doughnuts! I felt slightly guilty as I pulled into the parking lot, walked in, watched the doughnuts fry in all that oil, and order my lovely doughnuts. And let me tell you... it was SO worth the wait. Who knew that dreams could be so dangerous at changing your cravings. I hope tonight I dream of broccoli :)
10/7/10
Donuts
Last night I had a dream. We were working on cleaning up a park for a ward activity and when we were about finished, my friend and I went to find some donuts to reward those hardworkers who helped clean the park. So, off we go to find some sort of donut shop. I really wanted to find a Krispy Kreme because honestly, it's the best. Anyway, we walk into this store which I think is a Krispy Kreme, but is really this wonderfully awesome donut shop. It is like all those new cupcake shops that are super cute and totally over-priced but everyone will pay for them because of the funness and cuteness. Ya, except it was for donuts. The glazed were normal and really delicious (Krispy Kreme style) but then they had all these other kinds. They had a chocolate bar that was called "Can't stop." Haha, get it, like you can't stop eating it because it is too delicious. They also had cake like things that you could design yourself. You pick the cake and the frosting and then they put it together and heat it all up. It looked DIVINE! And then they had all this cute paraphernalia and I remember specifically thinking... "I have GOT to bring Ryan back to this place" (he loves donuts).
Needless to say, I woke up hungry and really wanting some Krispy Kreme donuts. If there was a donut shop around, I would be there right now! Mmmm... donuts! I also woke up with a new desire to open a fancy donut shop like this one. Do you think it would survive? Maybe we could call it "Go nutz for Donutz" Ok, fine we could work on the name. But I thought it was such a brilliant idea. Oh the ideas that come from dreams!!
Needless to say, I woke up hungry and really wanting some Krispy Kreme donuts. If there was a donut shop around, I would be there right now! Mmmm... donuts! I also woke up with a new desire to open a fancy donut shop like this one. Do you think it would survive? Maybe we could call it "Go nutz for Donutz" Ok, fine we could work on the name. But I thought it was such a brilliant idea. Oh the ideas that come from dreams!!
10/3/10
Back to Work
Today was my first day back to work. I was totally nervous about going back to work. I mean, 2 months off may not seem like a long time, but to me, it totally was! I felt like I was gonna go back in and totally not remember how to be a nurse. I was so stressed about it that I slept HORRIBLE last night, which doesn't help with being a good nurse the next day :)
Anyway, it actually turned out to be a really good day. The beginning was a little scary: getting report and not remembering what I was supposed to be asking about the patients. I even got some scary patients that had things that I'd never taken care of before (insulin drips, which are normally only done in the ICU!) Talk about scary. But, I was really surprised how fast it came back to me. I had my rhythm within the first assessment and I was caught up all day long, even having enough time to help out the other nurses on the floor. I was really proud of myself! And I'm happy to report that I actually enjoyed it today. I was totally dreading going back to work, but today made me realize that I have a good job and I work with great people, so I should be more grateful!
Anyway, it actually turned out to be a really good day. The beginning was a little scary: getting report and not remembering what I was supposed to be asking about the patients. I even got some scary patients that had things that I'd never taken care of before (insulin drips, which are normally only done in the ICU!) Talk about scary. But, I was really surprised how fast it came back to me. I had my rhythm within the first assessment and I was caught up all day long, even having enough time to help out the other nurses on the floor. I was really proud of myself! And I'm happy to report that I actually enjoyed it today. I was totally dreading going back to work, but today made me realize that I have a good job and I work with great people, so I should be more grateful!
9/26/10
The Boys
In case you can't tell, the one on the left is Mr. Owen (AKA mini-Dave) and the one on the right is Cameron (AKA mini-Brian).
9/24/10
Elder Whitaker
Can you believe it. Look at him walk away from the car so happy to go learn Portuguese and more about the Gospel! Wow, he is so old, which I guess means that I'm really old, but oh well! He is the cutest little missionary in the whole world!! Way to go Jepps!!
9/15/10
9/6/10
8/29/10
8/23/10
Olivia's Funeral
Olivia's funeral was on August 10, 2010. It was such a beautiful service and we are grateful for everyone who participated and helped out in so many ways! We have been overwhelmed with love by everyone we know. We have received so many notes, gifts, and flowers and we are so grateful for your support and love for our sweet little girl. Thank you a hundred times over!
The service was held at Sunset Gardens Cemetery. When Ryan and I were deciding where to lay our sweet little girl, we knew that we wanted to put her somewhere pretty, somewhere we could go often and where we could feel the peace of the Spirit. We looked at a couple of places, and when I saw Sunset Gardens, I felt like this is where I wanted my baby girl to be. It has a beautiful view of the mountains and across the way, there is a statue of our Savior. The cemetery has a baby area that is separated from the rest of the cemetery by trees, which I absolutely love. I love having an area specifically for children, so all those children can be together. Something about that thought brings me peace. It was the perfect spot for Olivia.
We had a short family gathering before the graveside service where we were able to say goodbye one last time to our precious daughter. She looked so beautiful, even then. She was wrapped in the quilt that I had made for her-or half of it, rather. Half for her and half for me to hold and remember her by. I was glad I made that quilt for her so she could have a little piece of me forever. My sister's husband, Dave, made a slide show of the pictures from the hospital of Olivia that played during the family gathering. I loved looking at those pictures and remembering the time we had with our daughter. My dad ended the gathering with a family prayer and then we headed to the graveside for the service.
My dad and Ryan's dad carried the casket to the grave site. Our Bishop conducted the services. Ryan's Grandpa gave the opening prayer and then Ryan's dad said a few words about faith and the priesthood. His words definitely brought the Spirit and made me so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and that families are eternal. Our sister-in-law Brooke and her family sang a beautiful mix of primary songs. When they began singing Families Can be Together Forever I felt the spirit very strongly. I know that because of the Savior, nothing can separate me from Olivia. She will always be mine and that is a great comfort. Following the singing, Ryan said a few words. We knew it would be hard for him to talk at that point, but we did not want to have this great service for Olivia and then not even let people get to know her a little bit. Ryan talked about our adventures with Olivia and her short life on Earth with us. From the uncertain pregnancy to the day we finally got to meet her, we were guided by God to make decisions that would be best for her. She was truly a Child of our Heavenly Father who we were privileged to spend those 37 hours with. Ryan finished the service with the dedicatory prayer, dedicating that spot of ground as a sacred place for our little girl.
There were definitely times that made me sad, but more than anything, the service was very uplifting. It provided the opportunity for each person to feel of the Spirit and gain a stronger testimony of the great eternal Plan of Happiness, for that is what Olivia taught me, among many others: That God's Plan of Happiness is the called such because it brings peace, hope, and that happiness he promises in times that seem impossible to bear.
The service was held at Sunset Gardens Cemetery. When Ryan and I were deciding where to lay our sweet little girl, we knew that we wanted to put her somewhere pretty, somewhere we could go often and where we could feel the peace of the Spirit. We looked at a couple of places, and when I saw Sunset Gardens, I felt like this is where I wanted my baby girl to be. It has a beautiful view of the mountains and across the way, there is a statue of our Savior. The cemetery has a baby area that is separated from the rest of the cemetery by trees, which I absolutely love. I love having an area specifically for children, so all those children can be together. Something about that thought brings me peace. It was the perfect spot for Olivia.
We had a short family gathering before the graveside service where we were able to say goodbye one last time to our precious daughter. She looked so beautiful, even then. She was wrapped in the quilt that I had made for her-or half of it, rather. Half for her and half for me to hold and remember her by. I was glad I made that quilt for her so she could have a little piece of me forever. My sister's husband, Dave, made a slide show of the pictures from the hospital of Olivia that played during the family gathering. I loved looking at those pictures and remembering the time we had with our daughter. My dad ended the gathering with a family prayer and then we headed to the graveside for the service.
My dad and Ryan's dad carried the casket to the grave site. Our Bishop conducted the services. Ryan's Grandpa gave the opening prayer and then Ryan's dad said a few words about faith and the priesthood. His words definitely brought the Spirit and made me so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and that families are eternal. Our sister-in-law Brooke and her family sang a beautiful mix of primary songs. When they began singing Families Can be Together Forever I felt the spirit very strongly. I know that because of the Savior, nothing can separate me from Olivia. She will always be mine and that is a great comfort. Following the singing, Ryan said a few words. We knew it would be hard for him to talk at that point, but we did not want to have this great service for Olivia and then not even let people get to know her a little bit. Ryan talked about our adventures with Olivia and her short life on Earth with us. From the uncertain pregnancy to the day we finally got to meet her, we were guided by God to make decisions that would be best for her. She was truly a Child of our Heavenly Father who we were privileged to spend those 37 hours with. Ryan finished the service with the dedicatory prayer, dedicating that spot of ground as a sacred place for our little girl.
There were definitely times that made me sad, but more than anything, the service was very uplifting. It provided the opportunity for each person to feel of the Spirit and gain a stronger testimony of the great eternal Plan of Happiness, for that is what Olivia taught me, among many others: That God's Plan of Happiness is the called such because it brings peace, hope, and that happiness he promises in times that seem impossible to bear.
8/9/10
Olivia Lane Gardner
OLIVIA LANE GARDNER
8.6.10 -- 8.7.10
5 LBS 11 OZ. 20 1/2 IN.
8.6.10 -- 8.7.10
5 LBS 11 OZ. 20 1/2 IN.
She is our beautiful daughter forever! We love her so much!!
8/3/10
Baby Girl Gardner
This baby girl should decide to make her appearance pretty soon, or they may force her out. They are throwing words around like "induction." Thursday is the deadline...
The upside? No more work for up to 12 weeks from now. Now that is good news!
The upside? No more work for up to 12 weeks from now. Now that is good news!
7/29/10
Cuteness
I (with help from others) have finally finished that quilt that I posted about here. It looks so good! I'm so excited about it! I finished the front and then shipped it all off to Illinois so Vivian could do the actual quilting portion of the quilt! It is so soft and looks so professional! Thanks to Vivian for making it so cute and wonderful! I love it so much! Can't wait to wrap my little girl in it!
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