Decisions...

So, I've decided I'm terrible at blogging. I totally set a goal and haven't kept up with it. My days end up getting so busy, or MyMy can't stand that I'm sitting at the computer and not playing with her.

Anywho...here's my recents.

We went to the a pumpkin patch last week. It was fun to hang out with some other ladies from the ward. I also really like that Amaya has so many kids around to play with. She is so happy and content when there are other kiddies around. Needless to say it was a good photo op. Sorry for the one that is all crooked.

Can you believe this was just in February? She looks so tiny, and my hair was SO long!

We had a little celebration for MyMy's birthday. It is crazy to me that she is already one year old! She still seems like my sweet little baby. She had fun playing with cousins, but I think they might have had more fun playing video games and eating TONS of chocolate treats.

This was my most recent project. I made a little side sling purse for my niece Cassidy's birthday. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Just a few more pictures...We spent conference weekend out in McKinney at Ryan's fam's house. It was SO great to just relax, but it was super cold! We didn't come prepared enough so we had to borrow some of Uncle Clark's socks. They went all the way up past her knees. She also has found some new places to hang out. She crawls inside this dresser drawer at least twice a day. Then she cries because she can't get herself back out....funny little booger.

Pick up your poop! And other news...

This morning after the gym Amaya was a little ant-sy. I decided I'd take her for a short walk outside to get out her wiggles/yells. On the walk, we encountered multiple steaming (yes, steaming) piles of poop. SERIOUSLY? We had this issue in Provo. One woman in particular would let her dog poop ON THE SIDEWALK and she wouldn't clean it up. It sat there so long that it even froze over when the first snow hit and we didn't notice it was still there until the ice finally all melted.

It is frustrating to me that people don't care about letting their dog poop in someone else's grass. Granted, we live in an apartment complex so it's not like I will mow over their poop with my lawn mower. But still people, it smells and leaving it ON THE SIDEWALK is unacceptable.
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Now that I've got that out... I haven't posted in a while so here are some updates:

• Officially applied for a Zumba instructor position at 24 Hour Fitness..will update with any further news
• Spent a wonderful  weekend in Utah visiting awesome family AND amazing friends (some of which just had the most beautiful baby girl arrive)
• Got control of my life ;) including:
• I kind of understand our finances better
• I've been reading a lot--added to my serenity
• I've made myself be more bold i.e. applying for the instructor position
• MyMy is on a great schedule
• I seem to managing keeping this giant house somewhat clean.
• MyMy is a GREAT signer--she already knows more, please, eat, all done and we're still working on thank you..
• I painted the kitchen! It is the same exact purple as our place in Utah, and I love it.

• Amaya is also really enjoying crawling in small spaces. She gets stuck in the cabinets very often..

• Her favorite toys as of late are all of our movies. I usually come back in the den and she has 10 or 12 surrounding her.

I'm all about short updates. I can never think of much else to include...I guess if you ever have any questions you can ask!

Mom duties..

The last little while has been a bit overwhelming for me. There are just all these 'new' responsibilities I have now that I'm home. Ryan is usually the one making all the phone calls to talk to people because he is so good at clarifying and understanding what they mean..Ryan can't really take care of anything home/house related now though, because he studies ALL day... That means I have to be the one on the phone etc. figuring all this crud out. I don't know if I'm handling it all well....One because I get easily frustrated having to wait or having to listen to people tell me about a bunch of stuff I don't understand...Two because MyMy is always in the background making lots of noise and its super hard to hear. I think having to deal with car/health insurance, internet, gym memberships, basically anything financial, has stressed me out a little. I always have the feeling that I'm totally screwing something up. Plus, it stresses me out because I am very aware of how in debt we are. Yay for Dental School!

On a lighter note...I taught my first Zumba class at the church on Saturday morning! It went great! I had about 10 ladies show up. That was a good feeling because the Zumba class I go to at the gym usually averages about 6 ladies. Anyways...it was super fun. I was surprised at how comfortable I felt up in the front teaching. I messed up a few times, but seemed to be able to get everybody back on track really quick. Yesterday 2 or 3 of the ladies told me they were sore and that they had a really good time and couldn't wait till our next class. I also had 2 or 3 ladies that found out about it after and told me that they would for sure be there the next class! I'm planning on talking to my gym and seeing if I can get on their sub list tomorrow. We'll see how that goes!

The week I'm going to Utah! Wooo wooooo! We get to see Adria cheer and I'm so excited. She is just so darn cute. I'm excited to see her in her element. Plus, having some Packard 'girl' time will be super fun! Let's hope I get a chance to dance with some of my BYU girls while I'm there!

I just had to include this last picture. Grandpa Haha is proving to be a very capable and loving Grandpa--managing two baby girls and a crazy jumping 2 year old in the pool! Love him and I'm so glad to have such a great example for my kiddies.

Zumba!

Last week I was certified to teach Zumba! The whole day was so, so fun. The lady who taught our training was AMAZING. She was in her 50s, had seven kids, and had the hottest body!! We danced pretty much all day. I realized though that teaching fitness classes is a difficult job. The choreography is fun and you might be a great dancer, but to teach requires a lot more skill.

I am starting by teaching the Relief Society in our ward. We'll see how it goes.

 Today I made some dry mixes. HOLY COW the recipe made a ton...We won't have to buy brownies mix or tortillas for an entire year...It was super easy, but super messy! I already made some of the tortillas and they were pretty tasty!

My love

This last week Ryan and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary. I cannot believe we've been married that long already. Marriage is a pretty amazing thing. I can tell that I have grown and changed so much. Ryan didn't need to change---he's just wonderful period. GOSH I love that guy.


Which is why I love so much that his birthday is on our anniversary. Sweet little Clark picked out his awesome Perry hat!

Busy bees.

This last week kept me busy. I haven't had the 'free' time I thought I'd have. Not being in school has had it's perks, but I definitely have my hands full; Amaya, figuring out bills, working out insurance, basically doing everything on my own. I have time to work on a few projects. I finally swept out our NASTY fireplace...I swear there was two feet of ash and dust in there--including old cigarette butts. Now we have a clean fireplace and Amaya just wants to play in it all the time.

 

My other project this week was making some t-shirt tanks. Texas weather makes tanks a must. I got the idea from pinterest. It was really easy, but I had to make a few cuts over and over again. The front neckline has to be cut we more than expected. Since the two sides are brought together in the back, the neck in the front comes up super high...so if you make your own tank make sure to cut the neckline.

Surprise...and another Surprise.

So far, he seems to be really enjoying his first week of school. He comes home everyday with something he wants to show me. Even though he is gone most of the day, then comes home to study even more, I don't feel like it has been too bad. I'm so proud of his hard work. The fact that he does so much during the day and comes home and just wants to be with me is consolation enough for not seeing him during the day. =)

Doesn't he look slick in his new shoes? They were intended for him to wear with his scrubs so they were an early birthday present.

 MyMy seems to be adjusting well. She is still a little clingy but everyday I can tell she is getting more comfortable playing by herself and exploring the new place.










I finally got up some pictures in the living room. I think they help dull the school bus yellow. I still can't decide if we will keep it long term--Ryan said we have to keep it at least a year....



 

         So the following two lovely surprises have made life a little more complicated. The sweet old lady from downstairs came up one day in a panic because her ceiling was leaking over the "comode." Well...we had a plumber come and he said everything was fixed. A few days later, she came up again said it was leaking again only worse and that the water leaking out was yellow. I was seriously grossed out. The plumber came and spent another three hours investigating and ruining three of our towels with poop water. Final verdict-he couldn't fix it, that it was a problem with the old pipes underneath the toilet clogging. So we have another plumber coming today and I'm PRAYING that they fix it. I keep having these terrifying thoughts the the old lady's ceiling is going to fall on top of her while she is using the "comode."

I discovered THIS lovely ROOF leak this morning after the rain we got last night. Our rug was damp and the floor looked funny. There is a pin hole in the ceiling, its yellowed and the paint is buckling. Yet another construction project (and workers that don't speak English).

Our new place is great but I'm ready to not have to deal with any more issues! And I'm not even the one having to call these people OR pay for it...my mother-in-law is basically a saint for all of her work.