Going Back to Nemo

It's funny how life works, huh?

Adam and I felt so strongly about coming to San Diego. We knew that it was right. We knew we had to do it. So we did, We are here. We left all of our friends and family in Florida and moved across the country to be here.

It is so great, the opportunities Adam is able to have. He is learning so much and so involved. I am so proud of him!

On the other hand, I have been having a difficult time adjusting. I have been praying so hard to get the comfort and peace I need to feel at home here.

Well, two weeks ago Adam and I went over our finances and realised how much more we need to make ends meet while we are in school. I am the only one who can work so I was starting to really feel the pressure. I was starting to look for jobs around here, but I hated the thought of leaving Xander with people I don't know. I hated how long I would have to work in order to make our life possible. I was just feeling down.

Enter Monday. I got a call from wonderful Disney Casting Director who offered me a full time contract. The offer was for Dory in "Finding Nemo the Musical." As many of you know, it's a part that I already know and love. Only problem-it's in Florida and Adam is in San Diego.

After getting the offer and crunching the numbers, it turns out that it is the exact amount we need in order to survive. By going away for 6 months I will be able to solve our financial problems. As Adam and I thought and prayed and prayed some more, a peace came over us. We went through month by month and found time each month for us to fly to see each other. We found a WONDERFUL friend who volunteered to watch Xander in her home so he wouldn't have to go to daycare. We have Adam's family super close and we have an AMAZING support group of friends down there.

While it is incredibly difficult to think of parting for any amount of time, it's beautiful to think of how we are led when we allow ourselves to open up to different possibilities.

God is so good!

I am grateful for the friends and family who have supported us so far and look forward to seeing all of our Florida friends soon.

February 21st-watch out Florida, here we come!

Update

I chopped my hair off again.

Xander likes to help make brownies. I think we may have a foodie!

Emma-The Old Globe

Emma is opening at The Old Globe. Adam is playing the role of Mr. Martin, the adorable farmer love interest of Harriet Smith.

It is a beautiful musical. The music is gorgeous, the set incredible and the cast is so delightfully talented! You all should buy tickets now!!!

Backstage shot-you will NOT see this in the show.

Xander is eating solid food!

My little guy is growing up so fast! He LOVES eating solid foods. He has attacked peas, sweet potatoes, pears and oatmeal.

He also loves playing with it and getting it ALL over his face.

Xander's first BYU game

While we were in Utah we went to a BYU basketball game. Apparently they have some pretty good players this year. Especially this one guy who can shoot and hit a lot of three pointers. Adam and I don't watch a whole lot of sports so it was great for Xander to go to a sporting event.

Here he is with Aunt Beth and Grammy.

Here he is with the boys-Grandpa, Uncle Joe and Uncle Jon

BYU won! What a fun day

The Baby Belly

I thought that after having a baby my body would kind of just get back into shape. I was in pretty good shape before I had Xander, I tried to stay active and eat well and I didn't give into my cravings. When I left the hospital I was SHOCKED to see that I couldn't fit into my skinny jeans. WHAT?!?! I still had a pooch and flab. I did not sign up for that!

At 2 months after I had Xander I was still not happy with my body. I just looked kind of dumpy.

Enter the contest!

Adam and I decided to enter into a contest with each other to see who could lose the highest percentage of body weight. We kept tracks of the calories we ate and then did an exercise program called P90X to get in shape. At the end of the 12 weeks I ended up losing 8.1% of my body weight and Adam ended up winning with a loss of 11.3% of his body weight.

As awesome as it was to lose the weight it feels even better to be active and in shape.

Here is my before picture

Here is my after picture.

A Goal 19 years in the Making

When we were little my mom and dad had a FHE (that's Family Home Evening, a night we put aside to spend time together as a family) about the Temple. The temple is such a special place to go as a family to ponder, pray and learn.

At that FHE, 19 years ago, we made a goal to be together in temple as a family in 2010. We colored a picture and put the year-2010-on it and hung it in the living room. Everywhere we lived we would have that picture. 19 YEARS!!!!

Enter January 2011. Jon, my youngest brother, is going on a mission. Before he left we were able to fulfill that goal of being together as a family in the temple. My older brother flew in from Virginia and I flew in from San Diego. It was the most amazing thing to be altogether there as a family.

I feel incredibly blessed to have such a precious family that I am a part of. They are supportive, kind, loving and all of them are my friends.