The Hopkins Happenings

Prepare yourselves

2011-11-16T15:08:00.001-08:00

I've been told I need to blog more...

Life goes on!

2011-10-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

I know I like to blame "time" for the lack of blog posts...but another factor might be that we don't have a camera! And most of you are probably thinking, she's married to a photographer! But have you ever held his carera? More importantly have you ever tried to hold his camera bag! Its about 50lb's and he doesn't just take the camera, the whole bag comes with it. So we don't use it often for family stuff. And I feel like camera phone pictures aren't much fun...but I'm going to post some anyway!

A little update on our family - Shad has been working / going to school to become a fireman. It's a competitve race down here but we're in it! He worked on a fire a few months ago with the Forest Service up in San Luis Obispo area. It was a learning experience for me and Cru to have him gone for so long. He also got a full time job working for ELITE Ambulence in Los Angeles as an EMT. We're hoping after some experience he can go to paramedic school. As for me, I'm still working full time at Home Care Pharmacy in Simi Valley. Cru will be turning 3 on October 28th. He has started a little pre school thing at home with some friends and he loves it. He goes to day care every tuesday and the Hopkins house on thursdays and fridays. He's a typical 3 year old boy with too much energy, hilarious things to say, funny facial expressions, a kind heart, lots of cuddles, and the cutest face ever! Now...today's events:

Cru and I went with a group (Joy school type group - the Learning Box) to the Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark. We love that place all the time but especially in October during Fall Harvest. They have so many fun activities, hay rides, pony rides, animals, pumpkins, corn maze, etc. It was only 102 degree's today but we still had fun! I was exhausted but Cru could have kept running around in that heat all day long if I let him. Enjoy the pictures. Some day there will be more...but don't count on it.

(That's right. My child dressed himself today "moonboots" (as we call them...others call them snow boots) and all. 80's style sunglasses. He was too much!)

Does anyone blog anymore?

2011-04-17T15:22:00.000-07:00

I mean, seriously...who has the time!? I obviously don't! Now days with working full time I just don't have the energy and I sure can't entrust the family blog to Shad :) But here's a few pictures of what we've been up to lately.

Shad blames this move on me...so not cool

Shad and Cru have both been hiking and training a LOT lately to be firemen. Cru holds his own pretty well :)

We have a hawk that has made it's home in our neighbors tree. It's pretty fun until we get the left over's from it's meals in our backyard.

The extent of Shad using his photography skills lately - things he finds on hikes in Wildwood - I heart this picture

WE DID IT! A FAMILY PORTRAIT!

My dreams have come true, and my sisters since we always joke that nobody ever see's any picture shad takes.

In march we went to Las Vegas for 4 days with out Cru. It was bitter sweet. One of the things we did was go to Hoover Dam. Actually kind of fun.

Shad's artistic version of the Hoover Dam. Shad also got to go to the BYU game while we were there. He had a very happy birthday thanks to his uncle Tim and my parents - sorry no picture at the game.

No, Shad has not gotten a job yet but he visits a lot of stations. Cru got to go with him last week and if you can't tell, he was a little excited!

October

2010-11-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

In October we had lots of things happen! Our friends Jeris and Suzanna Hobbs came from Utah to visit. We had fun with them as always! Cru turned 2 and had a little birthday party! And Halloween! The last 2 things in October were very stressful for me for some reason so I'm glad October is over and November is kind of relaxing with no plans for anything! Not even the Holiday!

waiting for his guests to arrive!

pumpkin painting activity - Lauren

Claire painting her pumpkin. Cru and Claire are BFF's!

happy birthday, blowing out candles, and first taste of real ice cream! not soy!

Here's 1 Halloween piture. We have more to follow and I think some coming of us with the Hobbs.

September

2010-11-14T11:07:00.000-08:00

In September we were given an amazing deal to buy my boss' car from him. So after many tears we sold (yes, we actually made some money!) our 1991 Toyota Camry that I got when I was 17 and bought our first car of our marriage! I think that’s an amazing thing in itself, after 6 years we have our first car payments! So our 2004 Acura TL is pretty fun for us!

(picture to follow)

Amazing

2010-11-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

I really don't know how any of you bloggers are working mothers and find time to blog! I applaud you! I obviously can't do both, hence the lack in blog posts. So here's a little re-cap of our life lately.

August

2010-11-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

In August Shad and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary by going out to Palm Springs. This is our second year going to this same place and same hotel for our anniversary and we love it. We love to lay by the pool and relax! My parents and Shad's parents were kind enough to watch Cru for us and it was so relaxing!

(in the infamous "pina colada")

In late August we went camping with our friends Heidi, Arthur, and Heidi's son Jaden. Cru LOVES Jaden but tends to call him "jer" which really bother Jaden. So we practice saying his name "jay -den" a lot!

(ignore my smile. i know its scary)

New Life in California

2010-07-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

So as of right now we are making California our new home! Carly back working at the pharm's and shad's playing Mr. MOM while job hunting. We are enjoying our friends here and being so close (hehe) to all our family! We love having vegetables in our garden and fruit in our trees! Cru's happy to have everyone's attention 24 hours a day and so much playing time outside!

sweet shades

trip to copperopolis to play with cru's cousins

Carly's 27th birthday!

cru getting in trouble.

Picking lemons

North Carolina to California

2010-07-15T21:21:00.000-07:00

NC to CA was a little more rushed and a little less excited! so we pushed all of ourselves to the limit on this trip.

Concord, NC - Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas - Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico - Flagstaff, Arizona
Arizona - Thousand Oaks, California

playing at a park in flagstaff. we had lots of fun visiting relatives there.

most amazing rest stop EVER! Thank you lonestar state!

awww. our sweet boy.

storm watch! (more like tornado watch)

I'm so over this.

utah to north carolina

2010-07-15T20:33:00.001-07:00

We had a long road trip at the end of April and this is how it went:
Utah - Silt, CO
CO - Hays, KS
KS - St. Louis, MO
MO - Knoxville, TN
TN - concord, NC

Here's some pictures of our travels!

one last swing in front of our orem hose:

shad's pride and joy being left behind:

we saw a lot of this on our road trip:

shad was obsessed with taking pictures of every bridge we saw, inside or out.

the mid-west. really pretty huh?

still smiling...doesn't last long!

cru's favorite thing at each hotel! riding the luggage cart!

cru's spacious bed!

back to shad's mission

so happy to be out of the car!

we've been found!!!

2010-06-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

I know we've been all over the country lately but we've been found!

so new blogs will be coming with pictures of:
- road trip from utah to north carolina
- life in north carolina
- road trip from north carolina to california
- life in california!

so keep watching!

and a few more from graduation.

2010-05-10T12:36:00.001-07:00

ps, all the other graduates with Shad are from the photography program. we were missing a few people but that's about everyone.

Shad Graduated

2010-05-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

My amazing husband graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Photography. We are soooo proud of him! His family came to down for the big event, it was lots of fun. Enjoy!

My amazing husband graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Photography. We are soooo proud of him! His family came to down for the big event, it was lots of fun. Enjoy!

and more back up.

2010-05-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

We love to play hide and seek. And Cru found the ultimate hiding spot right before we moved!

Mom and Dad brought up oranges from their tree over Easter so we taught Cru how to juice the oranges! He loved it!

Cru at the roller skating rink for Jeris' birthday. He used a scooter and we couldn't get him off all night!

back up

2010-05-09T12:58:00.001-07:00

Some of these are way old and I should have posted months ago. But any pictures are better than no pictures right. And it's quite typical of me anyway so just enjoy.

jeris' bday party at the roller skating rink. cru loved it. you'll see pictures later.

mom and dad came to visit for easter. cru LOVED having them here. especially his papa.

Lucy Call and I at her BFA photography show at BYU. Lucy and Frodo were the best neighbors ever and we miss them so much.

Shad and Cru at the Living Planet Aquarium in SLC. We went to see the new penguins.

We took Cru over to the Dinosaur museum at BYU one day. He was not too fond of it. ha ha.

life lately

2010-04-01T14:35:00.001-07:00

well about a month ago I took a picture of cru doing the splits on top of our last melting pile of snow in front of our house. well, we thought it was our last - and then weather happened yesterday and today! luckily it will all be melted by the end of today. but I need the weather to warm up because 1. I've packed all our winter clothes for storage this summer! 2. My parents are coming up this weekend and we want to do fun things that don't include playing in the rain or snow!

Cru is so "adventurous"

Funny story - the other day I was on the toilette (I know, I can't believe I'm putting this on my blog!) and cru got ahold of shad's electric shaver. well, the cutie likes to pretend to shave his face but instead went up to his hair. And well his long blonde locks got caught in the shaver and he started screaming. so i jumped off the toilette with my pants still at my ankle and got the shaver out of his hair. phew! then as I'm washing my hands in the bathroom I hear cru yelling in his bedroom so I run in there and find that he had climbed up his changing table to the top and couldn't get down. all to get a pacifier. he was soooo proud of himself though.
*sorry no pictures. it was a little much to find the camera while going to the bathroom and saving my child twice in a 1 minute time span!

Oh and 1 more thing - Cru got his first hair cut! I couldn't believe I did it! Everyone always loves his long hair and I loved it too I just wanted it cleaned up a little. Well, they cleaned it up a lot! So I'm a little sad. It'll grow back so I'm not going to be that upset about it or CRY or anything. But Cru loved getting his hair cut at COOKIE CUTTERS. They had a slide and a Thomas the train movie and he got to sit in a car chair and honk the horn over and over again the whole time. Then he got a sucker and a balloon. He was one happy boy after that. I made shad take pictures so if I can ever get them from Shad they'll be posted!

shad is old!

2010-03-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Shad had a birthday! He's not one for big celebrations but Cru and I tried to make it special. Shad and I actually got to go to the movies and dinner on his birthday. It was so nice for me too! (thanks JOY!)

I love you Shad! And you're not as old as you think you are!

Nothing to blog about

2010-03-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems like life has been too repetitive and boring to blog about. My patience is tested multiple times a day on an extreme level but I laugh way to much than I should also. Cru is talking a lot - we have no idea what he's saying most the time but I like to pretend I do for his sake and we have some fun conversations.

Shad's BFA show ended today (whoohoo!!!). It feels so nice for all of us to have it over with. What a stressful few months it's been and Cru is glad to have his Dad back in his life. Shad is also graduating in April so he's pretty much over school right now.

Our plans for the future have changed a little bit. We had no set job lined up after graduation so we decided to go out to Charlotte, NC with Shad's cousin and sell security for AMP Alam. We will be there from April 30th until August 30th. We are sooo excited for this adventure. Seriously. I'm really excited. I'll be able to see my brother Bryce when he gets home from Iraq and that means a lot to me.

Other than those few things, we've just been livin it up in Utah. I'm attempting to enjoy the last few months we have here (actually the weather has been nicer so it's not that terrible).

Here's a few pictures from our lives lately -

Our first trip to the Bean Museum on campus at BYU (lots of dead animals all over the place!)

Shot of Shad's BFA show in the HFAC on campus at BYU

Our family picture on Shad's big day!

Shad took a picture of a motorcycle for his show and was lucky enough to get the motorcycle to stay at his BFA show on campus for 2 weeks! It really caught some people's attention!

Cru LOVED the motorcycle. Seriously. We're in for some trouble.

Cru eating a ring my g'pa made. He likes to walk around with things in his mouth and swing them around. It's actually quite funny.

Cru doing one of his favorite things - wearing Shad's shoes. Cru is just obsessed with shoes in general. Trying on everyone's shoes. Taking them off, putting them on and attempting to walk in my high heels is the best. I have to get a picture of it!

Cru had to have Oreo's for dinner one night while we were stuck in the car. Long story. Accident. We couldn't move. It was the only thing I had in the car that was edible - he didn't complain!

come one, come all!

2010-03-01T12:22:00.001-08:00

exciting event! mark your calendar's!

2010-02-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Shad is having his very own BFA show at BYU to show off all his hard work! We are very excited and still in stress mode for another 2 weeks. But we'd love for everyone to come - so mark your calendar!

Exhibit Reception: Friday, March 5th, 2010 BYU HFAC building 6-8:30pm
Exhibit closes: tuesday March 16th

Puhleeease come!

who knew

2010-02-04T13:52:00.001-08:00

that the little slot of space in between your toilette lid and your toilette seat was perfect for....

sliding cd's into!

ps ingore our ugly toilette - we live in a rented place that the landlords refuse to fix up!

LDS Humanitarian Services: Haiti Relief Widget

2010-01-23T14:39:00.001-08:00

california!

2010-01-16T21:51:00.000-08:00

oh to live in california. Poor Cru got spoiled for 3 whole weeks over Christmas and New Years. He loved playing outside all day long everyday. And now he's sad and depressed with this cold, snowy Utah weather ;) But we had ton's of fun in California. We got to spend the 3 weeks with my sister Hallie, her husband Mike and their son Landon. It was so fun because they live in Michigan so we don't see them very often. It was the first time Landon and Cru had met and they loved playing together. We also got to see Elise, Lily, and Emerson for one day. Then Riley and Breanne came down on Christmas day. It was a full house!

Some things we did:
Went to Americana at Brand in Glendale to watch a water fountain show, snow falling, and eat dinner
Went to the J. Paul Getty Villa for my dad's birthday
Went out to dinner lots!
Went to the beach
Went to Banning with Shad's family to see his grandparents
And pretty much just hung out in the nice california sun!

more pictures to come...

2010-01-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

I can't believe this is my little munchkin Michael. He's not so littl anymore! I started babysitting Michael and his brother Daniel about 7 years ago. It's been so fun seeing them grow up! way to go bud!

http://www.life.com/image/95621130

Military Cards

2009-12-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that my brother Bryce currently serving in the army and is stationed in Iraq. I can only imagine how hard the holidays will be for him and his family. I know these cards through XEROX don't actually go to him but I know if it's hard out there for him it's hard for all those serving our country and our freedom. My brother is pretty lucky with supportive family and friends but he has friends out there in Iraq who get no mail and have no support. So please, it seriously takes 1 minute to do this card thing and it'll make 1 soldier happy. And if any of you feel generous this Holiday Season to send a card directly to my brother or his family, please let me know and I'll give you his address. I know he'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

Carly

XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq.

You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!

It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?

Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them.

This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you.

Please take the time to send a card, and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's.

Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

Hopkins Family

2009-11-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

Over the summer the Hopkins Family had the opportunity to have the one and only Bryan Niven do a family photo. Check out Bryan's blog for the full image.

www.bryanniven.com/blog/

Faces of China

2009-11-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

I know this is like a month late but that's the story of my life. We are so glad that everything regarding Shad's trip to China in May is over with! The week leading up to his exhibit was such a stressful week for all of us. Shad was eating meals at school and he practically lived in the print lab/dark room. Cru and I made many visits that week just so we could catch a glimpse of him (and bring him food). Towards the end of the week I was asking people to watch Cru so I could help Shad (thanks Chels and Joy). In the end it was amazing. I have never been so proud of my husband. He is so talented and I love the pictures he took while in China. I also thought that Lucy, Reed and Jessica did a fabulous job. Thanks to everyone who went to the exhibit to support the photographer's and especially Shad. It was amazing to see our friends and family making the exhibit a family home evening activity, a friday night date, a stop on their way to the oh-so-important football game! thank you to all!

Picture of the group in China. left to right: Valerie Telford, Lucy Call Millward, Reed Rowe, Shad Hopkins, Jessica Bingham Kehl, John Wong (photographer: John Telford)

Students that went to China: Jessica, Lucy, Reed, Shad

James, Shad and Cru (Lucy and James are married)

Shad, Cru and I in front of Shad's pictures. Notice how Cru is NOT looking at the camera. He is instead pointing at the picture of the pig behind him that now hangs on his bedroom wall. He loves that pig.

Shad Cru and Joy (shad's sister)

Hopefully in the near future Shad will put his China pictures up on his website. Until then, you get to look at them through my camera! :) enjoy. We would love to hear comments on pictures you like from the exhibit.

P.S. I know this is going to make my mom DIE but it was really cute listening to him giggle while he slid down the stairs. This is pretty much all Cru wanted to do while we were at the exhibit reception.

Halloween!

2009-11-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

First - the day before Halloween we were so lucky to be able to meet up with some friends that have moved away from Provo. It was fun! Here's a few pictures although I didn't really take too many.

I really love this picture. Emily with the kids (sorry Addie, I have no idea where you were wink wink). Emily used to babysit Cru (forever grateful) and she's holding Heidi (her daughter) and Cam (Cru's other babysitter's newest baby!) and then Cru!

and this is obvious why I'm not the photographer and shad is. sorry Sean, cute picture though. Cru loves you!

Cru was a good sport for staying up so late!

Second - HALLOWEEN. Well, I'm pretty sure that Cru was the cutest Zebra ever made! And he didn't hate the costume as much as I thought he would!

Cru looks so tired here. Poor guy. After an eventful Halloween (mall trick or treating, ward party, Chelsea and Jacoby's trick or treating, and the Millward party) he was so tired!

cru's birthday party

2009-11-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

here's some pictures from Cru's first birthday party! It was fun and I was exhausted for a full 24 hours after (pathetic I know) but it was so much fun. Cru got fun new toys and clothes and he loved his dinner and loved even more his dessert!

I can't believe it!

2009-10-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Cru is 1 year old today! How time has flown by! But our little Cru is so perfect now. Even after his rough start! We just love him and are so glad he's is in our life to bless us every day! Happy Birthday Cru!

picture's of cru

2009-09-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a long time. I've been slacking. Maybe it's a good thing I'm not sitting on the computer all day lately! Cru and I have been crawling around a LOT and he's been getting into a lot of trouble. We moved back to Utah at the end of August and started our life here again! Enjoy the pictures...I'll post more soon (disclaimer - these are from my cell phone. I couldn't find my camera battery charger and the battery was dead and I couldn't upload pictures onto the computer until the battery had life!)

our very own tribal chief!

cru loves his berry smoothie from costco. maybe we shouldn't give it to him but he has teeth number 7 and 8 coming in and quite frankly, if it makes him happy it's his!

probably one of my favorite things to do. put sweet glasses on him.

2009-07-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

highlight of my day yesterday...cru stuck between the toilette and the bath tub. so cute.

finally! an update

2009-06-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess I figured that while Shad was in China for a month I'd go on hiatus! Actually it felt like quite the opposite! Cru and I had an exciting month, we didn't get to experience China like Shad but we tried to stay busy. Here's an overview of the last month and then you can see the slide show below.

Shad left April 30th in the weee morning hours. Sean was so nice to take Shad to Lucy's house for the ride up to the airport. I'm so glad I didn't have to wake Cru up and put him in the car seat at 5 in the morning! I finished some last minute packing of the apartment the rest of the day. Around 4pm I left to drive up to SLC. I hung out with Riley until my parents flew in and Breanne got off work. The next morning we woke up early to drive back down to Provo for my GRADUATION! Dad, Riley and I got to UVU at 7:15 while Mom and Breanne took Cru over to Kate's so she could so kindly babysit him all day (while having her own 2 boys and being pregnant and then having her sister's baby dropped off later that day!). After graduation we went to lunch, finished a few more things at the apartment, sad good bye and took off for St. George.

So St.George is where it gets interesting. Basically the interesting part is that I gave Cru formula for the first time and he was allergic but we didn't know if it was the pea's, formula, or shrimp I had eaten that day and then I breast fed him. So note to self: when the books, doctors, websites, pamphlets, etc. all say only to give your baby 1 new food item at a time and wait a few days before introducing a new one....LISTEN! So around 10pm we decided to take Cru to the ER after he couldn't sleep and he was scratching so hard it was bleeding. After 3 projectile vommits, a dose of benadryl and prednisone and then sitting until 1am we were finally released. we then had to go to Wal-Mart to get more benadryl for the night. Thankfully my mom was with me at the hospital the whole time. I couldn't have done it without her!

The next morning we left for California around 8am. We made quite a few stops but over all Cru was really good. And we appreciate my dad driving our crummy vibrating car for us.

Since I've been home we've:

- flown to San Francisco (with a 2 hour delayed flight...1 hour before and 1 hour on the plane! Cru was a gem!)
- stayed in a hotel in S.F. with Elise, Lily, Emerson, and Cru. We all shared 1 Queen bed by the morning except for Lily!
- Walked our feet off in San Fran.
- Stayed 7 days in Copperpolis, Ca
- Celebrated Emerson's 2nd birthday!
- Went shopping, swimming, driving, playing, while staying with Elise. (I watched the kids a few of those days while she went to school and work)
- Memorial day weekend Lily and Emerson stayed with us while Elise flew out to see Bryce in Georgia (for those that don't know my brother Bryce is in the Army stationed in Georgia)
- picked up Shad from the Long Beach Airport on May 26th! and also said good bye to Lily, Emerson, and Elise
- hiking in Wildwood to Paradise Falls

um...I think that's about it. Hopefully this update makes a few people happy! We miss our friends in Wymount and our family up there but we are enjoying California...a lot!

big people food!

2009-04-20T09:15:00.001-07:00

so a few weeks ago we started feeding Cru rice cereal. we think he likes it...what do you think?

picture story

2009-04-09T14:10:00.001-07:00

*I can't wait to have a washer and dryer - 3 more weeks

clarification - my sister just called and wanted to know what the big fuss was about, since all he did was pee out of his diaper! well, here's the explanation! Cru had pooped out of his diaper. He does it almost everyday. If we make it through just one day, we will be happy! We've done all that we can do, I think ;)

We have tested every brand of diaper - pampers is the most expensive for a reason
We have attempted every method of stain removal - oxy clean is a lifesaver
We have trained our ears to hear the explosion - keep Cru close at all times
We have tried to time the length of time we leave between explosion and diaper change - no time at all

but there are some moments in life, some moments everyday really, that you realize, for only that moment - life can't always be controlled. In fact, Cru's poop can't always be controlled.

4 month pictures / video's...finally

2009-03-11T11:37:00.003-07:00

Cru's 4 months!

2009-03-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

So I really can’t believe that Cru is 4 months already! He’s getting so big. Well, more like filling out since he was always so long and skinny! And he still talks just as much as he used to. It’s hilarious. We’ve got a little schedule going and it’s made all of our lives easier. I changed my schedule at work to 7am – 11am which has worked out a lot better for us and our baby sitters. (we are so lucky to have good people to watch Cru) AND we get to see Shad more often during the day which is fun.

Here’s Cru’s current info:
Weight: 15lb 3.5oz (50%)
Length: 26” (85%)

What Cru likes to do:
• Put EVERYTHING in his mouth!
• Drool
• Play with his feet
• Roll onto his side
• Play with toys
• Watch baby Einstein
• Kick his feet
• Taking a bath
• Giggle
• Smile
• Climb over a pillow thing – pictures to follow – SO funny
• Go for walks
• Getting out of the house!
• Hanging out with the moms and kids at the playground (he got “the lip” one day when Shad picked him up from the babysitter when she was out there…Shad was very hurt but I thought it was funny!)
• Um…get attention!
• Dance (more like bounce) when music is playing (this is true…it’s happened a few times, ask Emily if you don’t believe me!)
• Watch me do the dishes (this is not really his first choice but I tend to sing to him while I’m doing the dishes, so hopefully it’s more that he likes me singing (right!) than watching me do the dishes!

Thats it...pictures and video's to follow.

calling all utah residents!

2009-03-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

okay, so Shad keeps getting mad at me that I'm making such a big deal about this, but I'm excited for him. Shad entered a picture in the BYU visual arts: Vera Hinckley Mayhew Student Creative Arts Contest. And his picture is up in the HFAC on campus for display until March 16th. So go take a look. We went with our neighbors for FHE last night...and it's free!

Hopkins Family

2009-02-18T22:01:00.000-08:00

Finally we got a Hopkins Family Photo...only to be outdone by the one and only Bryan Niven this summer (still in the works). But I thought why not add it to the blog for a while.

can't get enough of Cru

2009-02-16T11:34:00.001-08:00

Cru sitting in his Bumbo for the first time...we think he likes it

We think Cru looks pretty hard core thanks to outfit additions from Heidi and Shannon

seriously...seriously!

boys hanging out

some people educate their children with Baby Einstein...we educate Cru with The Office (he's so advanced for his age!)

Oh the Places You'll Go!

2009-02-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

New York

March 24th-28th

and then....drum roll please....

CHINA!!!!

April 25th- May 25th (ish)

Yup...you could say Shad's lucky. I say he's blessed. The New York trip is with his class at BYU. They go on a trip every year and this is the first one Shad will be going on so we are excited. The China trip is an honor. Shad's professor, John Telford, received a Grant through BYU to take his wife and 4 students from the photography program to China for about a month. All the Juniors and Seniors could apply and he would pick 2 girls and 2 guys out of all of them. Shad was chosen! We are so excited and so proud of him! He has had so many great things come from being at BYU and we know we have been so blessed.

finally! our california slide show

2009-01-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

best friends

2009-01-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

so I still need to post a slide show from our trip to california...but in the mean time, for those of you who are just interested in our adorable baby, this should suffice!

Hotel California...slide show to follow

2009-01-09T10:19:00.000-08:00

My favorite quote from Lily while in California:

C-"My mouth is on fire! What should I do!?" (my mouth was really hot-from a taco)

L-"die."

favorite picture of Cru while on vacation:

and...more pictures

2008-12-17T21:05:00.001-08:00

Cru fell sleep on my lap last night and his leg's were crossed. It was so cute!
Cru...rocking out with his skull candy head phones (thanks fuzz)
and Cru is finally enjoying tummy...sort of
We are off to California on friday for 16 days and we are so excited! We'll try to post while we are out there! Hope everyone has a merry christmas and a happy new year!

Picture Update!!!

2008-12-17T20:52:00.001-08:00

okay...here's some pictures from the last month!

Cru got to sit on Santa's lap for the first time at the ward party! (thanks David! You were an excellent Santa!)
Cru had his first experience of of flirting at the ward party. JaNae was holding him when Kate and Candace came up to play with his hands. He LOVED it. Candace came back after they left and said "Bye Screw". I hope it's the last time he's called that!
Cru and Andrew Arnold hanging out at the Stake Dinner at Aspen Grove in Sundance. It was so nice to have them sleeping and hanging out.
We were SO lucky to have our favorite family come visit! The McClintocks came out from Missouri to visit Heidi's family for thanksgiving and we got a taste! It was so fun to see them, see how big Luke is and meet Chloe for the first time!

CRU

2008-11-19T13:28:00.001-08:00

alright, Cru had his 3 week birthday yesterday! We tortured him on Monday with a little sniperooney, a PKU test and an x-ray. The good thing out of that day was that his air pockets are all gone and we have no more x-rays to get! (phew). and we found out that Cru is growing very well and eating better than some people thought. He was 9 lb 9 oz on Monday and now 22 inches long. He basically could squash any of the other new baby's at church, even though half of them are older than him!

Cru is looking cuter and cuter everyday! I love it. He does the funniest things with his face which everyone in my family will admit to also doing! His hair is blonde and his eyes are blue for now. Shad and I are having so much fun with him!

I went back to school on the 7th so it's been a juggling act getting ready for school every morning, feeding Cru (or pumping for food later) getting Cru ready and taking him to kind friends houses to watch him when Shad can't. But it's working out and we only have 3 more weeks of it. Sadly I'll then be going back to work on the 9th :(

Everyone's been asking for more pictures so here's a few! Enjoy!

Ps, in the pictures Shad got him the I heart NY outfit while he was there this summer. So we had to take pictures of him wearing it.

shout out

2008-11-13T11:04:00.001-08:00

Shad has shot the Redline Bicycle Catalog for the last 2 years and they gave us a little shout out on their website: http://www.redlinebicycles.com/freestyle/index.html

Also Cru is doing a lot better. We will have x-ray's done soon to check on the air pockets but the doctors assume they will go away on their own. His Bilirubin is all gone and he's been off the lights for 1 week and we couldn't be happier! We love learning all the fun little things that Cru likes and dislikes and we've learned a lot about parenting in these last 16 days!

2008-11-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

Here are a few random photos that I recently took of Cru. Enjoy!

Introducing....

2008-11-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Cru Acel Hopkins

Born Tuesday, October 28th at 5:46pm

Weighing in at.... ready for this?! 8lb 15.4oz / 21 and 1/2 inch long!

Cru had a few complications coming out and a few more once he came out into the world. He was born with a Pneumothorax which is an air pocket in the lungs. His was on both sides of his lungs in between his lungs and his rib cage. He also had one around his heart. They kept him in the Nursery the whole time we were in the hospital (tuesday until friday) and I got discharged on Thursday but decided to pay the hospital to stay with him until he was discharged. As of friday when we left the air pockets were gone except for the one around the heart which they say will eventually just leave on it's own. We'll get more x-ray's in a week or so. On Wednesday afternoon Cru developed Bilirubin which is Jaundice so he was kept under special lights until us leaving. When we were discharged friday the hospital sent over someone to bring us special lights that Cru is supposed to live under until his bilirubin level has gone down to normal. (Poor guy really doesn't like living under these lights!) We will be getting blood tests done daily until then.

Although it was all a bit complicated, we are SOO glad to have Cru here. We feel so blessed that everyone has been so excited to welcome Cru into this world. And we feel so blessed that we had amazing Doctor's that were able to prevent a C-section and hospital staff that were all able to help Cru continue to get better! Orem Community Hospital had the most amazing and helpful staff and doctors. We are so grateful for everyone's prayers, love, support, and help.

Enjoy the pictures...sorry there are not a ton, but it was pretty hectic for a while so we didn't take many. (and he had not so pretty tubes, IV's, monitors, etc. on him for a while. But we do know he's amazingly strong because he ripped out the IV from his hand...hence the IV in his head!)

deadline!

2008-10-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/episodes/?vid=767161#vid=767161

well, we are getting down to the wire, so in order to prepare ourselves we watched an episode of the office. Dwight and Michael really helped us feel at ease! check it out.

Oh, and it's just the first minute and a half...

Pumpkin Carving Enrichment

2008-10-17T07:46:00.001-07:00

Last night for enrichment we carved pumpkins! When we were at St.George someone had a Better Home and Garden magazine that had the cutest idea's....

so I set out on a mission to find a "corer" to do this polka dot pumpkin carving! And mine was fine until...the polka dots started falling INTO the pumpkin! So probably this weekend I'll gut the pumpkin and save the polka dots and find a way to attach them so they don't fall in again. I was waiting to gut it until closer to Halloween. But I had fun doing it anyway! Maybe I'll still buy a white pumpkin and try that! Well, here's my attempt at copying Better Homes and Gardens!

Oh and I made a good dessert for the activity...I've only been waiting a YEAR to make it so I'm glad it turned out!

PS, I'm on fall break from school, that's why I'm actually posting lately! It's so nice! Sorry Shad, no fall break for you! It's kind of giving me a taste of what life will be like in January....(I hope I'm more productive than this!)

And his name is...

2008-10-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm not really going to spill the beans and tell you the name we have picked out. That would just make this whole ordeal of keeping a secret for 9 months pointless! And we're on the home stretch so I think I can hold it in for a few more weeks ;) But I did tell Shad that we are not doing this again!

But I would love to know if any of you have ideas of what the name is. I know our friend Sean spent time on the internet looking after we gave him clues. Sorry I can't give everyone clue's but if any of you have ideas we'd love to hear them!

3 weeks left!

2008-10-14T15:12:00.001-07:00

I feel like I should be blogging more but I'm struggling finding the time, the energy, and something exciting to write about. Granted, I am pregnant so that's exciting enough some might say...but I feel like it's been 9 months and nobody really wants to hear about my pregnancy all the time! I don't even want to hear about it all the time! he he. And it's a little hard these days to focus on my pregnancy when I'm still going to school and working among other things!

So we are down to our appointments every week which is such a bore! I hate it. But it must be done. We have exactly 3 weeks left and we are both very excited. I am noticing Shad being more excited lately. We went to St.George last weekend and met my parents there to visit my grandma and also picked up our crib from my parents. As soon as we got home Shad wanted to put it together. So that made me happy. We already had bought the changing table and baskets to match, the bedding and I got my diaper bag a few weeks ago. (I was on cloud 9 after we bought it...I still am when I think about it and look at it!) Oh and our rocking chair is coming in the mail today! I am very excited about that! It is so comfy!

ps, this picture was just taken from my cell phone...just to let people see...but what some of you can't really see is the cute little fish on the bedding!

We are so excited to have our little ______ (insert name here) come into our lives in a few short weeks! We will post asap when we have him.

shad went to his first BYU football game

2008-09-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to go to a BYU football game. It was so much fun to actually be there instead of watching it on TV. It's amazing the energy inside the LaVell Edwards Stadium. Every time that BYU scored a touchdown, I got the goosebumps. This photo is proof that I don't like my picture taken.

Grandma Maygren

2008-09-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Carly's grandma, Pearl "Dixie" Maygren passed away on August 30th, 2008. These were the last pictures we took with her, last Christmas. We saw her in May when we went home but didn't take any pictures.

Carly and Grandma
Grandma and Landon (Hallie's baby)
And this is grandma's care taker with Lily. She is the sweetest lady and she will also be missed.

Grandma made the best banana bread (I'll post the recipe on the recipe blog) and yummy home made chex party mix at chirstmas time. She was such a great cook and loved to be with family. She will be missed. But we all know that she is in a much better place where she can be with her husband, her daughter (Carly's Aunt Jeanine who died of Breast Cancer) and her 7 other siblings again.

BIG NEWS

2008-08-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I forgot to post this! But we found out last friday (August 15th) that Shad was accepted into the Bachelor of Fine Arts - Photography Program at BYU. I know this might confuse some of you (dad included!) but last year Shad was accepted into the Photography Program which would give him a Bachelor of Arts in Photography when he graduates. But a BFA is so much better! (and requires so much more work / time / money in the future) but we felt it would be better for his career. So Shad worked diligently all summer ;) on his portfolio to show his professors his best work! He printed them, mounted them, and we bought a pretty box to show them in (that also cost a pretty penny). I'd like to say it was a joint effort...but Shad's the one with the talent so basically I was good at cutting, driving, motivating, typing, and praying! But I'm so proud of Shad and all he's accomplished. He's worked really hard since we've been married to 1) get to BYU (even though I wasn't to happy about the idea!) 2) get into the photography program 3) get into the BFA program 4)impress me every time he takes a picture 5) make a good amount of money by taking pictures and selling them which has helped us out so much financially!

So congrats Shad! I am so proud of you!

P.S. if any of you want to congratulate shad....do it on HIS photography blog! That would just be so much better! shadhopkinsphotography.blogspot.com

what a week!

2008-08-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

well...we've had quite a week of simple events and big events. Phil, Summer, and Vienn finally arrived to Utah on Monday and stayed with us a night and on tuesday we helped (shad really...not me!) them move into their new Wymount apt! I think we did a really good job at making these apartments sound bad because they were quite pleasantly surprised! he he.

We started our hypnobirthing class and had our second one this week. Shad and I are both really enjoying it! (thanks heidi and jen!)

We really can't complain to much about pregnancy stuff. We've been both really blessed with our miracle baby! Blessed to be pregnant in the first place most of all! But then to not have gotten sick at all...that is another great blessing. So basically I feel bad complaining about the little aches and pains that I'm starting to feel a little and I'm afraid I've spoiled Shad :) (love you!)

And! We helped another move yesterday! Riley and Breanne bought a place to live in West Jordan so we were up there yesterday from about 11am until about 11pm! Their new home is so cute! I just love all the closets! Most people take those little things for granted (closets that is) until you live in Wymount! And Shad impressed us all with his all his little "fix it's". I just can't list them all! I was so proud!

Last night while at Riley and Breanne's someone backed into our car. I wasn't too upset because...Well, it's not my favorite car (sorry mom and dad!) because Shad impressed me with a newer one he brought into the marriage!. (thanks vince and dannette!) But I've had it since high school and it's been a great car and now days it gets great gas mileage compared to our 4-runner. But I was thankful that we had driven it instead of our 4-runner. We were parked on the street in front of a house so we figured the people's house we were in front of, they had backed into it. Shad knocked on their door and asked and they were not nice people and halfway admitted it. It turned into a very long night after that. This morning I've been trying to figure out what we are supposed to learn from it. It could just be patience. Or maybe we need to be more grateful for what blessing's we do have because I feel like we've gotten a lot lately. I'm not positive yet...but I'm sure it's something good we'll get out of it!

That's our week in a nut shell! In case anyone was sitting at home, twiddling their thumbs and thinking "I wonder what the hopkins did this week...."

Happy Anniversary

2008-08-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to think that we've been married for 4 years! We have had life experiences that we will always remember, some good...some bad! But we've had them all together. We've also had many life plans that have changed and some unexpected ones. We love where we are at in life right now, expecting our first baby and finishing up school. We love being able to live here at Wymount and have this amazing chapter in our lives!

I am so glad that 4 years and 8 months ago Shad called me and asked me out! I would never take back any of our dates: watching him take pictures for the college newspaper, watching him ride his bike, or watching him take pictures of other people riding their bike! I just had to be around him and that's still how it is today!

bmx plus magazine

2008-07-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

Shad got another front cover of BMX Plus Magazine! So go check out the newest issue...I think it'll be September!

happy birthday emily ferons!

2008-07-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 15th was Emily's birthday! I'm so glad to have a friend like her and I'm so thankful that she lives in my stairwell! I don't know what we would do with out the Ferons! On Monday JaNae and I decided to surprise Emily and take her out to desert! We set it up with Sean and we the "birthday bandits" kidnapped her and took her to Mimi's Cafe! It was a lot of fun and quite delicious. All day at work I kept looking at their website eyeing the apple cobler I was going to order! Here's the pictures: (one's sideways...I know!)

Then on Emily's birthday Sean took her out for a surprise date and asked me to babysit Heidi! We had a good time (well, once she got over the fact that her parents were missing and she stopped hitting her head on the door!) and I caught this picture of her laughing on my cell phone. I know it's not that good but she looked so cute running around, laughing and hiding from me!

LexisNexis Owlz Game

2008-07-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

My work decided to take everyone to the Orem Owlz Baseball Game on Friday Night. It was a lot of fun. Shad couldn't go, the poor guy had to go to New York (I know, I feel really sorry for him too!). They fed us an all you can eat bbq and we had a raffle and then we went and watched the game. We were all really excited about the raffle, there were some pretty good prizes and some ok prizes. I won a $15 gift card to Jamba Juice (which I don't love) and then right afterward Dallin won a $25 gift card to Olive Garden (which he doesn' t love and I do!) so we switched! I was very excited after that. And Chelsea got a LexisNexis fleece which we've both wanted since we started working there! I was very jealous!
Chelsea and Jacoby
Dallin and Jessica (Dallin and I started together at LN)
Chelsea and I - I would die at LN without Chels!
Dallin, Chelsea and Me This is our Supervisor Angie. She is so much fun! We LOVE her!

Farewell Hobbs!

2008-07-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

A few months back, our stairwell (Ferons, Reisers, Hobbs, and us) decided to do a joint Family Home Evening every other week. We rotated assignments and it was a lot of fun. But...then the Hobbs decided to leave us. We are still sad about it. In celebration of their departure we had a fun filled FHE up at Rock Canyon Park. We bbq'd and played baseball. It was a lot of fun. We miss you Jeris and Suzanna!

JaNae....playing baseball...or modeling
Suzanna playing!
Emily pitching for Sean
Sean looking real intense!
The Wymount 10B stairwell! (Shad, Carly, Suzzana, Jeris, Heidi, JaNae, Emily, Matt, and Sean!)

Shad's video

2008-06-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

So in May Shad decided that he really couldn't handle his boring job anymore at BYU Central Stores and talked to his brother Rudd and our neighbor Sean who both worked for KBYU. Shad eventually got hired on to film there and has enjoyed it so far. About the same time he had started to talking to Bryan Niven, a photographer in the area about assisting for him. Bryan tried him out and liked Shad so now he assists on Bryan's photo shoots and creates video's of the photo shoot / picture making process for Bryan's blog. (http://www.bryanniven.com/blog/) We would love everyone to check out the new video shad did for Bryan and also check out Bryan's work. We think he is very talented...not your average photographer. If you go to his blog click on the latest entry about Nate's photoshoot. In the list of things that he's been doing you can click on the word "video" and it will take you to the youtube site for the video. I thought about just putting up the youtube video on our blog but I'd really rather everyone go through Bryan's blog so you can check out his work.

I love both of Shad's new jobs because he enjoy's both of them. Especially working with Bryan. Shad's the happiest right before, during, and after one of Bryan's photo shoots! So congrats Shad!

Our trip to California

2008-06-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

Bryce is always doing something funny...here's proof!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

While on our trip we got to see some friends, go to San Diego for a job, visit yogurt express (love it!), hang out with our families, eat good food, go to the beach, and relax! We had a lot of fun. Too bad we can't visit more often!

sprouts!!!

2008-06-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

About a week and a half ago, for Enrichment we were taught about plants and herbs and then we got to plant some herbs to take home. I planted Cilantro, Rosemary, and Basil. And yesterday I was so excited to see my little sprouts coming out of my Cilantro! I just had to take a picture and share with everyone! I think Shad got a little excited too, even though he would never admit that! So all the watering and sunlight is starting to pay off!

blogging!

2008-06-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

For Enrichment last night, Michelle Gardner taught us how to blog. I learned a lot even though I already blog. There are so many things about blogging I didn't know how to do and she taught us how to create your own template and back drop! I'm excited to spend countless hours trying to figure all this out! But Michelle also gave us a quote that I really liked -

At a BYU Hawaii Graduation, Elder Ballard encouraged students to "consider sharing their views on blogs, responding to online news reports and using the "new media" in other ways, share their views through blogging." Because "we cannot stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church teaches," he said. He went on to say that "perceptions of the Church are established one conversation at a time..." and that Church leaders "can’t answer every question, satisfy every inquiry and respond to every inaccuracy that exists," due to recent media coverage and inquiries. Just remember, “there is no need to become defensive or belligerent,” in our blogging.
I really liked that we can use our blogging for good, besides sharing our life experiences with those we don't see or talk to all the time, we can also share our testimony and share the gospel of Jesus Christ and use our blog to do good.

it's a boy!

2008-06-05T09:27:00.001-07:00

So I'd love to be a sneaky sly little villain but I'm not. But I did get close. At my last appointment (my 14 week which was really 15 weeks because I was a week behind) I thought I'd ask for another ultra sound (I also kind of knew that around 16 weeks they can see the gender) and I told them I just wanted a better picture of my baby than the one I have currently from 6 weeks! And my doctor said "didn't you get one at your 10 week appointment?" So it turns out I was supposed to but the ultra sound technician wasn't in on thursdays. Anyway, my doctor said I could go to the front desk and make an appointment for the next week and I wouldn't have to pay anything extra. (at 16 weeks you can pay $50 for a gender check) I was so excited. And it was the day before our trip to California so I was even more excited about that! So here are the latest pictures of our baby!

Apparently he was curled up in a ball with his chin to his chest and wouldn't move out of that position. funny thing about that is I used to sleep all curled up in a ball...ask my mom. or even shad, he's seen me do it!
Drum roll please......and it's a boy! I was not surprised at all. I have had a few dreams that it was a boy and I even had one the night before the ultra sound. Which is quite odd for me, I've never had dreams that were like predicting things. But it was very cool.
And one last picture of our little boy. The technician took like 10 pictures of him in this same position...kind of boring but still cute!
So there! Next thursday is our 20 week ultra sound appointment which we are excited for. And just so everyone knows (most of you do already...) we do have a name picked out but we are not sharing the name until he's born. Lets see if we can keep a secret. More like, lets see if Carly can keep a secret :)

moby wrap

2008-06-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

So Michelle in my ward sells these Moby Wraps and is having a contest to win one! so everyone, go to her website and check them out. they are cute! bab-i-licious.blogspot.com

Shad's blog!

2008-05-31T10:33:00.000-07:00

Shad finally updated his blog! I've been begging him for months to do it! and finally he did it! oh my! Anyway, check it out, leave some comments, tell your friends, etc. ShadHopkinsPhotography.blogspot.com Oh, and if you haven't already, go buy the July issue of BMX plus magazine!

pictures from last weekend...landons stuff and staying with Riley and Breanne

2008-05-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

Landon

2008-05-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

So last weekend our little nephew Landon came out to see US!...ok not really. But Hallie, Mike, and Landon all came out from Michigan to celebrate a few very important days in their lives. On Friday the 2nd Landon was legally Hallie and Mike's baby! On Saturday we got to go to the Salt Lake temple and see Landon be sealed to Hallie and Mike. It was really a special experience. Then on Sunday we got to see Landon get a blessing from his dad in church. Riley and Shad got to participate which was special. I'm going to post my pictures later but in the meantime check out the photographer's blog. (my sister hired a photographer to capture these moments!) http://threewinksstudio.blogspot.com/ Except I should have posted mine first and then hers later because now that I post my pictures after her's they will just look ridiculous. Anyway, Landon looks so cute and my mouth hurt so bad after the pictures and trying to make these kissing noises that made him laugh so hard. Oh the things we do for the ones we love!

A miracle has happened

2008-05-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I guess I should finally post a blog about our news and make it known to everyone, or at least to those of you who don't know yet. Shad and I are having a baby! I am now 14 weeks which is so exciting! Our due date is November 4th (but if you ask my mom she'll swear it's earlier than that!). We were lucky to get an ultra sound at 6 weeks to prove to us it really was true! So the little baby looks like a little DOT in the ultra sound. That UFO circle to the left of the shaded in baby is the placenta forming. (these are all things I'm learning)

Most of you who know me well, know what amazing news this is and how surprising it is! For example, my mom's response when I called her was "Are you sure? Is this even possible?" For those of you who don't, let me explain. (Although I'm going to try and give a shortened version)

When I was in high school the doctors found a small tumor growing in my pituitary gland, a pituitary adnoma. After high school in May 2002 I had surgery to remove it at Cedars Sinai hospital. The whole thing was interesting to say the least and after the surgery the adnoma grew back. So I've been on medicine ever since to try and control it. But the doctors have told me since day 1 that because this is in my pituitary gland it will have a big affect on me having children. The prospects were not eliminated, just narrowed down a bit.

Well, Shad and I were thinking lately that maybe we should start thinking about having children once I've graduated which will be in December. So we started going to a doctor up in Salt Lake who could regulate my medication and help get my adnoma under control which would then make it easier for a fertility specialist to help us. BUT, apparently we wont be needing it! After a visit with my doctor and telling him how yucky I'd been feeling he said "Well, are you pregnant?" and I said "uh...I don't know, am I?" and he said "I don't know take a pregnancy test." When I left the doctors office, I said a prayer. I've had so many medical problems and I've always known that Heavenly Father would bless me with children I just didn't know when or how. But I remember saying "I need a miracle" to basically be pay off for everything. Well, I took that pregnancy test and there it was, that unforgettable plus sign. I will never forget the feeling that I had when I saw it. And I will never stop thanking my Heavenly Father for this blessing. We don't know how or why it happened, but it did and we are so excited and grateful!

So now I just have to focus on finishing school and having this baby!

Cafe Rio = Utah residency

2008-04-26T07:43:00.001-07:00

Ok, I know this could be upsetting to some people, but I've never really liked Cafe Rio. (gasp!) I think we've gone once. It just was not as impressive as everyone says it is and I'd rather just go to Baja Fresh or Olas for Mexican food, but I guess I can only go there if I'm in So. Cal. So here's the story.

Everyone rants and raves about their salad and I've never had it because we've never gone back. And Shad's been sick with some rare disease (a "man cold") for about a week and couldn't eat anything so I wasn't making food. I was just eating crap like mac and cheese, top ramen, left overs, etc. And the other day I was so sick of it. I called Shad and I said, I want a salad. (if any of you know me well, I never "want" a salad. I'll eat one, but I never want it!) So Shad said "go ahead!" I was really craving a BBQ chicken ranch salad from Paradise Bakery, but I wasn't about to drive up to SLC. And the only place I could think of around here that I heard had good salads was Cafe Rio. I ordered my salad, brought it home and loved the entire 1/4 of it I ate! Ok, I said it, I loved it. I loved having a tortilla in my salad, I loved the rice, I loved the flavor of the chicken, I loved how the lettuce was romaine and not iceberg, I loved the guacamole, and most of all I loved the dressing! I have been craving it daily ever since and I don't know what to do because that salad cost me $8.06! But Shad did end up eating the rest so I guess we ate that night for $8.06. But normally Shad would eat a lot more.

So, I guess I've turned. I got a Utah drivers license last week and now I like Cafe Rio. I don't know how this happened. And I don't know how to control these cravings! HELP!!!

utah

2008-04-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

yesterday it was 79 in provo and beautiful...today it started out nice and now it's snowing! i don't think i can live in this state for much longer!

2008-04-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

Friday night we got to go to the Bee's Opening Home Game with Jeris and Suzanna. It was really cold and we lost the game, but it was fun.

Shad promised me a churro. I LOVE churro's! I think they are priced way too high, but I enjoyed every bite. ps, only one of those is mine. I wish I got two!

Bumble the Bee!

This is us freezing. We were going to leave early but then the Bee's started to catch up and it was really exciting...so we stayed to watch them loose. :(

After we went to Hire's Big H and had french fries, shakes, root beer, and hamburgers. Thanks Hobbs!

Snow Canyon

2008-03-31T21:30:00.000-07:00

On Saturday before Grandma's party we went to the street fair in town and then some of us went to Snow Canyon.

Riley and Shad took off towards the beginning and we didn't see them for a long time!

Ok...so I'm not sure if this picture shows how red the sand was, or how white my feet are! Sad.
Shad and I on the rock's. They were pretty cool looking!
All the kids on the rocks. Breanne, Carly, Riley, Shad. Dad was taking the picture.

Grandma Landon's 89th Birthday

2008-03-31T21:23:00.000-07:00

On the 22nd we all went to St. George for Grandma's birthday bash. To the left of my grandma is my Aunt's family (Travis his wife Liz, Annie and her husband Aaron and baby Jaden, and my aunt Karen. Grandma's in the middle. My dad's behind her, then my brother Riley and his wife Breanne, my Mom and Shad and I are in the front). We had a good lasagna dinner that my mom made and yummy pies. My grandma was really excited to have us all there.

Grandma blowing out her candle!

Heidi and Jaden

2008-03-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

On March 15th Heidi, Jaden, and Tarik (sp?) came up to Utah to visit everyone. We met up with them at Red Robin for lunch. Lucky for Heidi and Jaden it started to snow while we were in the restaurant. So we ran outside for Jaden to experience snow for the first time.
I'm pretty sure after a minute he didn't quite know what to do with it....but it was fun watching him experience snow!

On Sunday we met up with them again at the Breedlove's house in Lehi. All the Wolf's were there: Matt, Lisa and Rick, Jen and Rob, Heidi and Jaden...and then Shad and I. It was fun. we played with the kids and watched them play duck duck goose which was so funny. Then the adults played Sequence after the kids went to bed.

Nacho Libre

2008-03-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I was going to put up picture from our Nacho Libre party...but there are too many funny ones and I'm too tired to make a slide show. So if you want, go to Emily and Sean's blog and see the pictures / watch the funny video. You can see Jeris get pantsed (sp?), Shad hiding under the table, and the boys wrestling with balloons in their clothes. Oh and you can see all the "stretchy pants"

Shad's Birthday!

2008-03-31T20:56:00.000-07:00

This is Shad on his birthday leaving for School. It was warmer out so he was excited to ride his new bike.
Shad's brother Rudd made him a birthday cake the day after. Rudd and Joy (shad's sister) came over and we sang happy birthday to Shad and ate cake. Oh, and this picture was taken right after Joy leaned in for the picture before and caught her hair on fire! It was funny.

2008-03-31T20:50:00.000-07:00

So apparently we haven't posted for a while...and we've had a lot of eventful things happen, I think. Well, we had Shad's birthday on March 11th, he turned 26! We had Heidi and Jaden visit from California. We had Carly's g'ma's 89th birthday party in St. George. We had Easter. We had Carly's parents visiting. We had a trip to Vernal to meet Carly's relatives she's never met before. We had Shad go on a trip to Las Vegas and Carly have a TV watching marathon while he was gone. I think that's about it. So I think I'll post each one separately with some pictures so it's short and simple and not a huge post....so enjoy!

2008-03-03T22:26:00.000-08:00

This is why Shad is not allowed to buy me flowers on Valentines day...I'd rather be surprised! And so, I was! On Saturday Shad brought these home for me, and every day I smell them at least once and every time I look at them I smile. And who says flowers are a waste of money!?!?!?

OUR HOUSE STINKS!

2008-02-24T14:43:00.000-08:00

MY DEAR HUSBAND HAS BEEN WORKING ON HIS LITTLE BICYCLE FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW AND I'M NOT SURE I CAN TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!! EVERY TIME I COME HOME OUR HOME SMELLS LIKE SPRAY PAINT! UGH! AND EVERY TIME HE SPRAY PAINTS HE OPENS THE WINDOWS (I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO REMIND YOU ALL HOW COLD IS IT OUTSIDE AND HOW MUCH I HATE BEING COLD) AND THEN HE LIGHTS MY FAVORITE CANDLE (ANOTHER REASON I'M NOT HAPPY!) AND TURNS ON THE FAN TO DRY THE PAINT FASTER! OH AND CAN I TELL YOU WHERE THIS BIKE IS AFTER IT'S WET AND DRYING!?!? HANGING FROM THE VENT IN THE CEILING IN FRONT OF OUR PANTRY DOOR. THE OTHER DAY I OPENED THE PANTRY DOOR AND HIT HIS BIKE FRAME ON ACCIDENT WHICH SENT IT SWINGING BACK AND FORTH, EACH TIME IT CAME BACK IT WOULD HIT THE PANTRY DOOR UNTIL SHAD RAN OVER TO STOP IT. THEN HE SAID "CARLY!" AND I SAID "IT'S OK, IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO THE DOOR" AND HE SAID "I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE DOOR!" HA HA. OH THE JOYS OF BEING MARRIED TO SHAD!

2008-02-18T14:48:00.000-08:00

Carly has decided to make pie's...ALL THE TIME! She wants to become some kind of pro at making pie's so she's got a way's to go! But she documented herself (while she was supposed to be at school) making a Coconut pie she took to Kate and Tyler's for dinner last week. Although, a picture of the finished product never got done...:( She has been singing about pie's (thanks tyler), dreaming about pie's, tasting pie's when she's not even eating one...you get it. So any good pie recipe's...send 'em her way! Want to help her? Come on over! Oh, and Marilyn (her mom) and her are trying to think of a good name for a Pie Restaurant! So put your thinking cap's on!

2008-02-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Breanne! Breanne is the newest addition to our family and we love her so much! She got married to Riley, my brother in October. So Breanne had a fabulous birthday on February 14th! Riley made her a delicious dinner, they both had the day off work, AND Breanne's amazing mom Nancy came out from Washington! So on Sunday we went to their house for yummy lasagnia, rolls, salad, and chocolate triffle! We then played games after and it was so much fun. Thanks! We love you Breanne!

2008-02-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

These are some of Shad's drawings from his art class...he thinks he's terrible at drawing! I think he's much better than I can ever be! And as much as he thinks he "hates" his art class and "hates" drawing, I'm pretty sure that deep down he actually LOVES it!

2008-02-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

This is Shad's new baby! He had taken some pictures that Eddie at 5050 bike shop traded him for a new bike frame and it's finally here! Shad has been waiting for this for a very long time! Now he's bummed because he needs to do some sanding and spray painting on his new baby and the weather's not so good for that! This lovely child of his is # 14/20!!! That's probably Shad's favorite part...there were only 20 of these babies made! So once the entire bike is put together we will post more pictures! Make sure everyone congratulates Shad on the new edition to our family.

Weekend Getaway

2008-02-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

So this weekend Jeris and Suzanna Hobbs invited us along with the Underwoods to go to the their cabin in Midway. I'm pretty sure the whole thing started with Jeris and Shad wanting to take some out of control pictures in the snow with Jeris skiing off something crazy. They did end up doing it...just at the last minute. It was quite the adventure. Hiking 1/4 mile in at about 9:00 at night with 1 flashlight, all our stuff and 1 baby! But we had so much fun hiking in there, making snow angels, snow shoeing, jumping off the roof, watching movies, sitting in the hot tub, eating good food, etc. The Hobbs are so nice to invite us and we had such a nice time getting away for 1 night! We never wanted to know what time it was! And surprisingly we made it out of there without anyone getting hurt!

CHRISTMAS / TRIP TO CALIFORNIA

2008-01-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

So, I wasn't sure how I was going to post all these fun new pictures we have, so I thought this slide show thing would be the best way!

Oh brother....

2007-12-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

click here for a good laugh...ps, shad hasn't seen this yet!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1317580163

Games and stuff.

2007-12-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh! That's pretty much all I can say right now. We went to our friends (they live below us) Matt and JaNae's house tonight to play games. Steve and Becky, Jeris and Suzanna, Jen and Chris, and JaNae's friend Evianne (sp?) we're all there. We first played "christmas catch phrase".... that didn't work as well. And then we played some cranium type game like pop 5 or something. Ps, Shad HATES cranium with a passion and will only play games with other people as long as it's not cranium! So they pull out this game and I just knew shad was not excited. Anyway, it was boys against girls and it was just the funniest night of games ever... in my whole life probably! Becky video taped a lot of it so i'm going to post that later. But i just had to say how much fun I had before I went to bed. We were there for 3 hours! oh my gosh!

If you want to see some of the hilarious video footage (sp?) then click on steve and becki's link and on their page you'll have to click on the game night link under their friends.

It's begining to look a lot like christmas...in utah that is.

2007-12-01T22:31:00.000-08:00

Today carly had the sudden urge to shovel the snow off of our walk way. So I thought I would take pictures of this miraculous event because carly HATES the snow. I think she's starting to warm up to the idea of snow. The best part was hearing her grunt everytime she picked up a shovel full of snow. Enjoy the photos because this is a rare once in a lifetime experience!

Thanksgiving!

2007-12-01T22:04:00.000-08:00

So for Thanksgiving this year Shad and I (and Jayson Johnson) drove down to St. George to spend the holiday with my grandma. We stayed in her lovely assisted living appartment and ate out a lot. G'ma loves to eat out. We had Thanksgiving lunch / dinner at Cracker Barrel and it was quite good. Especially the pie! Shad met up with his friends (we dropped Jayson off at his friend Derek's and he'd meet up with them) to ride and take pictures. We also went to Snow Canyon one day so shad could take pictures for a project at school. I thought we could post them on our blog but Shad says no. We even got to see my cousins Annie, her husband Aaron and their baby Jaden, my cousin Travis and his wife Liz (we've never met her before) and my aunt Karen and uncle Jerry. Oh the fun in St. George. On the way home we got to torture Jayson in the car by making him listen to Michael Jackson. I started my book which I wasn't supposed to start until after finals and...that's it!

Landon

2007-11-10T20:38:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of our newest nephew Landon Xavier Owens. He was born on October 23rd and weighed in at 5lb 9oz. We were lucky enough to have little Landon, my sister Hallie, and her husband Mike stay with us for a while when Landon was born. I made Shad take cute pictures of Landon. It was a pretty fun experience. We didn't have a black backdrop to use so we got out my black long coat and put him on the floor. But Landon was not very happy there! After a few minutes of trying to take his pictures while he was crying, I picked him up to love him so he'd calm down. As I was loving him I realized that he was happy on my chest. So I layed down on the ground with him on me and we put the coat in between us. Then I held up part of the coat so the coat blocks out our lovely wall. ha ha. Anyway, it was fun, tiring, and Shad did a really good job!

HELLO!!!

2007-11-10T20:25:00.000-08:00

OK, so I never thought that I'd want to have a blog or even attempt to make one but I am. So basically I just thought it might be easier to keep everyone up dated in our lives instead of e-mailing. (Since we do so many exciting things!! right) But, we'll give it a try. And I'm not very computer savvy so we'll see how creative I get.