Mount Saint Helens

In July we took a day trip up to Mount Saint Helens with my aunt Sheri and cousin Connor. Basically it was a perfectly beautiful sunny day in the Pacific Northwest so here are a bunch of pictures of our great day!

Ranier Cherries stand at the side of the road? Yes please!

Mt Adams and Mt St. Helens

Puffs of smoke coming off. Connor was afraid she might erupt while we were there.  We assured him she would not.

The Gang. Sheri, Connor, and Dustin

Mt. St. Helens from Coldwater Lake

Just another perfectly sunny day in the Pacific Northwest!

December

December is quite the month! It is flying by and filled to the brim as we get ready to head home for the holidays for a little break.  We don't fly out until Christmas Eve morning and I'm hoping and praying that everything goes ok with the flights (we fly to Reno for a small layover before landing in SLC) so we make it time for family Christmas Eve fun!

This Monday was Dustin's birthday which we celebrated by going to a Portland Trailblazers basketball game vs the Toronto Raptors.  It was a fun game and the Blazers won which is always nice.  We also celebrated D-man's birthday by seeing The Hobbit in Real 3D with Dolby Atmos sound at the Cinetopia in Vancouver.  It was so unreal!  The video and picture quality was just... crazy awesome.  The movie was pretty good too, but I was mostly amazed by the imaging. 

In case I didn't mention it before, in October our ward got a new primary presidency and I was called to be 2nd counselor.  It has been fun but also made me SUPER busy!  Between learning what the heck we're supposed to be doing, cub scouts, sharing time, and planning a meet and greet breakfast for the beginning of the year, every night is booked!  But I work in an awesome presidency and we are learning quickly. 

It's crazy how sick this world is getting.  And not the good kind of sick.  On Tuesday here in Clackamas, just a 10 minute drive from our house, there was a shooting at the Clackamas Town Center mall.  This is the mall that we usually go to! We love Clackamas! We love how the sidewalks sparkle! It's crazy to think that someone would come and start randomly shooting at our mall!  It's lucky that this happened on a Tuesday afternoon instead of a Friday night or Saturday because the mall is always extremely busy.  Our hearts go out to those families that were affected by this sad incident.

And then Newton, CT on Friday.  Oh my.  I can't even begin to imagine why anyone would go to an Elementary School to kill innocent children and teachers.  That is a sick sick crime and I was so heartbroken to hear about the massive amount of damage that was done.  I send my prayers to those families in that town, both to those that had losses and those that survived.  That is such a tragedy.

What is this world coming to?!

As far as us, we're doing ok.  The news of our negative results reached a breakdown last week.  We were fine until some LDS students in a club meeting at school with Dustin started complaining about how they were pregnant again and how they can't believe they have so many kids.  UGH.  Makes me so mad.  And then I started my period which is always that awful reminder that it really didn't work.  That we are still waiting and must continue to exercise patience and faith. 

I did meet with a family doctor this week to get testing done on my TSH again and see how that is doing and whether we need to change my dosage for my thyroid.  I'm still waiting on those test results, but hopefully we can start making progress. My insurance is changing next year, which I am SUPER happy about because I've hated my insurance.  We did get a ray of hope when I saw an EOB show up online from my insurance that looks like it will cover most of the first ginormous bill we received for bloodwork.  I'm talking about an $818 bill going down to $24.... HUGE DIFFERENCE!  I'm still waiting for an updated invoice to really feel in the clear, but it was a tender mercy and a little sunshine that we will make it through this and not become absolutely broke at the same time.

I probably won't have time to post again this next week so we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  We look forward to 2013 and hope it brings happiness, peace and miracles!

Results

The results are in.  Thank you all for your prayers! We even heard that some people fasted for us! We really appreciate your love and we've felt your prayers.  After my freak out on Tuesday as I was getting ready for work on Wednesday, I really felt calm and that I would be okay with whatever the results would be.  My mom then flew in on Thursday to surprise my cousins and spend some time with us.  It was a busy weekend filled with a baptism, priesthood ordination, shopping, and lots of family fun!!  It was good to stay busy.

Also, I got to steal a baby. 

My aunt's sister's family from Spokane came down for the family filled weekend and they have a foster baby they are taking care of right now.  Little Peytin is 3 months old and so adorable.  And she LOVED me.  When I would hand her off to someone else, her eyes would follow me, wondering where I was going.  Stinking cute.

And then Monday was the test.  Unfortunately, the results came back as negative.  The IUI didn't take this month and we are not pregnant.  And we are both surprisingly fine with the results.  And I'm not saying that because I want you to think everything is hunky dory.  I wouldn't be afraid to write if things were terrible.  I blame all the prayers.  They may not have been answered as we had hoped, but they have provided a lot of peace and comfort.  We are honestly doing great.  Plus, a cold one always helps.

 December just isn't our month for pregnancies.  Two years ago I became pregnant on clomid and miscarried in December.  Last December is when miscarriage #2 was due. And this year we just have no dice.

I have no idea what the plan is now.  We will be taking a few months off to pay off the massive bills from all the testing that was done--- all which came back with normal results by the way.  Now THIS I am furious about (not about normal test results, but the massive bills).  My health insurance is the most worthless thing ever and is costing us terribly.    With all normal results on everything except my thyroid, I'd like to go to a regular doctor and follow up with him... so that it is in my network and can be covered by my insurance.  Seems like I should make sure that is in check before trying again, so I guess that's our plan.  Guess I do know what it is after all.  :)

Thank you again for your love and support.  Maybe next year we will have better luck and better news!

Epic Girls Day

Our friend Brittany moved to Portland and into our ward the end of January this year.  And she HATED Portland.  Her job was a 6 month minimum gig and she decided from the get-go that she would not be staying here past that.... though I tried to convince her many many times that she should stay.

Before she left, we put together an EPIC girls day filled with tons of fun things to do in Portland!
To save on time, I've decided to blog this day in captioned pictures only.  Enjoy!

The Waffle Window deliciousness.

Yolanda, Vicky, and Brittany enjoying their waffles.

Portland Saturday Market. I loved everything with Portlandia references, specifically the "Put a bird on it!"

So I had to buy a baby onsie with a bird on it... and Oregon.  I bought a blue one instead of this adorable pink since blue is more gender neutral.  This pink one was the most adorable one though!

Saturday Market Old Town. Brittany, me, and Yolanda

Brittany's haul from Powell's City of Books

I know this is a horrible picture of me, but we stopped at a 7-11 for  drinks and found this GIANT Rice Kripie treat! How crazy is that?!

Brittany and Yoland on the OHSU tram

Japanese Gardens

Yolanda and Vicky at the gardens

Practicing my geisha skillz.

Brittany and me... cuz I'm weird like that.

When in a Japanese Garden, make peace signs as Japanese tourists...

Portland Rose Garden.  All the roses were in full bloom and it was beautiful!

One of my favorites- a pink and yellow mix rose.

Me and Vicky striking a pose.

Finished off the epic day with BJ's Pizza and Pizookies!

We miss you Brittany and are so glad we got to hang out with you while you were here!!

Camping is in-tents

This summer we were able to take a camping trip with our ward at Cape Lookout which is super close to Tillamook, and it was AWESOME.  Like seriously, so awesome that it wasn't even like camping.  It was right by the beach with easy beach access, nice facilities such as a bathroom with running water, flushing toilets, and showers, and the camp sites were decently sized with a fair amount of privacy.  We had so much fun!  We roasted hot dogs and mallows for smores, and watched a beautiful sunset across the ocean.

Some kids from the ward invading our camp site

Brittany and Vicky. Tents set up and ready to party!

 Of course one of the best parts about camping is the FOOD and we had a most delicious breakfast!  Bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, all cooked over the fire, and peach dump cake cobbler from the dutch oven!

Brittany's sand dollar haul

 The next day we were able to pack everything up after our yummy breakfast and head to the beach for the day- walking in the water (which was surprisingly warm for Oregon coast), collecting sand dollars, and having a picnic lunch!

My sand dollar haul.  Rollin'!

Camping was SO great this week that we decided to go the next weekend as well, but with our friends Brittany and the Stanfords cuz the Stanfords weren't able to go to the ward campout.  We went to Barview Jetty, which is also close to Tillamook but north a bit, where the Tillamook Bay jetty is, and let's just say that this camping experience was not as great as the perfect one the week before.  We were NOT right on the beach, the facilities were only mediocre, and there were SO many people with campsites crammed right next to each other with hardly any privacy... dogs running through the site, bikers along the road. Yikes.  The Stanfords got there pretty late so they had to set up their tent in the dark but we tried to entertain the kids with roasting things on the fire.

The next morning we made another great breakfast of sticky rolls and egg strata and then packed everything up and headed to Rockaway Beach.  We made sure to bring our swimming suits this time, but the water wasn't as warm as Cape Lookout (Cape Lookout was just the greatest place ever).  We still had fun playing in the waves and little tide pools and exploring the cute downtown.

After we had our fair share of the beach, we went to the Tillamook Factory for some cheese, ice cream, and lunch. Yum!  Then Dustin and I with Brittany went down to McMinnville for the Yamhill County Fair Demolition Derby!  This Demo derby was TEENY TINY compared to the Utah State Fair one we are used to in Spanish Fork, but it was still fun and we were able to enjoy some fair food of elephant ears, funnel cake, and snow cones.  I have to say that it was my FIRST time every having an elephant ear and it was delicious! Who doesn't love a giant cinnamon and sugar scone?!  I also picked up a few cute little girl bows for my future lil cupcake (hopefully someday) and lil baby girl Jack coming in October.
 

Demo Derby parade of the cars

Epic Vacation

*Warning: A million pictures are in this post!  Because of that, I am giving a rough overview of the week and then a million pictures!*
For Memorial Day weekend, we went on an EPIC vacation with our good friends from the ward Nate and Yolanda Stanford with their 5 kids and Brittany.
We stayed down in Bandon, Oregon which is SOUTHERN Oregon coast.  Dustin and I drove with Brittany and completed our journey along the entire Oregon coast by driving from Lincoln  City down into California.  Our trip down we stopped at some lighthouses, a cool place called Devil's Churn, and the sea lion caves.  It was an all day drive starting at 8 AM but we made it to Bandon in time for dinner and swimming at the pool.
Sunday we woke up bright and early to visit the West Coast Game Park walk through Safari which is a long title for "coolest zoo ever."  You get to pet the baby animals!  We got to pet a black panther, black bear, lion, and fox.  There were goats and peacocks and deer and llamas just walking around and pooping everywhere.  Hahaha, yep, it's true, the word of the trip was "poop" based on all the poop we found everywhere.  Guess that's what happens when you mix free roaming animals and children's vocabulary!
After the coolest zoo ever, Brittany, Dustin and I headed down the rest of the Oregon coast into California to visit the Jedediah Smith State Park which is a park with REDWOODS.  They were so awesome!  So awe-inspiring.  I felt like I was walking through a super high-def movie as it was so surreal. You really felt so small while hiking among the giant trees!  Sunday night was spent with a fancier dinner and more swimming!
Monday morning we hit the beach in Bandon and it was awesome!  Tide pools, mussels, and star fish galore!  I ventured out into the water about knee high, but most of our time was exploring the tide pools.  The kids had so much fun pulling the poor star fish off the rocks.  Dustin and I carefully relocated them back on so hopefully they are okay!  The afternoon we explored a little Old Town Bandon starting with the Cranberry Sweets shop- where they have free samples of just about all of their candies!  We felt pretty sick after our samplings, especially since Dustin and I haven't been eating a lot of sugar lately.  Then it was the drive back home, which was much shorter driving straight back and not along the coast.
It was a great weekend and a fun getaway! 
 Now pictures!

 Yaquina Bay lighthouse

 View from Yaquina Bay lighthouse

 Dustin at Devil's Churn.  We climbed all over these rocks and it was cool to see the waves splash up against the rocks.

 From the top of Devil's Churn after hiking back up

 Sea Lion Caves

 Can you see the Sea Lions?  They are BIG.

 Another lighthouse.  Don't remember which one...

Dustin driving the boat!

Petting the baby black panther

Baby Black panther

A goat was fond of Brittany's jacket and kept trying to nibble it.

Amery with a little baby goat.  She loved it!

Petting the baby black bear with Daxton and Brigham

Dustin and one of the many peacocks!  Which were sometimes scary cuz they would kinda charge you.

Amery and Brigham petting the camel

Petting the baby fox

Albino ferret

The Stanford kids.  Brigham's (in the middle) face is my favorite.  So Brigham

Brittany and Dustin petting the baby lion

Dustin and the llama

Dustin inside a Redwood.  This was a little one.  Hahaha

The base of a fallen Redwood.  Look how big it is!

Stretching out as far as we can

Very tall. Pictures can't even portray the beauty of these trees

Just to get a little perspective- Brittany is that tiny dot at the bottom of the tree in the middle.  Can you find her?

Brittany and the beach.  So excited!

We found a little sand crab.

Tide pools

Star Fish!

Dustin found a little cave

It was kinda bright... don't mind me squinting like crazy.

The beach!

So happy!

Amery and the star fish

Little crab

Lincoln's haul.  He's holding three star fish here.. that we hopefully put back on okay...

The sun started to come out!

Yolanda, Brianne, and Brittany.  Great friends!

Such a pretty view!

Old Town Bandon- The Flying Pig.  Thought it was funny and cute. :)

Me and Brigham- my adopted son.  He is one crazy kid!

Good vacation!