Happy Birthday Homeowners!!

Time Flies When your having fun!! It has been one year now Since we bought and moved into our lovely home!! Yay for us and the house!
It has been such a fun year with so many happy times, so I thought I would do a
quick run through!
Here are some fun pictures of the past year of our lives!

Masterpiece... Yummy lookin huh... it was..

My First Sewing project since my craft area was set up... I re-purposed one of my old shirts and made him one!
Visiting grammy's class!


Let the good times roll...

I have a dream...

Oh how Max and I want to go back and visit Portugal. 

I want to meet the people he taught, see he places he lived, eat the food he ate, and walk the streets he walked! I want to be in the place that built within my husband all the love and knowledge he has of the church. 

Someday... a girl can dream right? Who knows... maybe much later in life we will be sent as a couple to serve? Wouldn't that be amazing!

If I had to choose one of the best things my Dad ever gave me, it would be sharing with us his kids his love for the country he served in and showing us just what that meant to be 100% in the service of others and the amazing feeling that overcomes you.

To serve a mission... now that would take hard work and sacrifice. Unconditional Love, and a steadfast testimony. I can't imagine 2 years! 2YEARS! The first time I went to Peru, we were there for 2 Weeks, and I was still sobbing at the end!  I remember Immediately arriving home and getting a big bucket to place out in the family room that had the writing "Amy's Peru Fund, accepting donations :)". I wanted to be back there RIGHT THEN! 

Taking us down to Peru on humanitarian trips was no "Vacation" as they say.

My parents could have used the money to take us anywhere else, Disneyland, Mexico, California... any hot spot vacation... but instead they took us to the middle of the Swampy, bug infested, no ice, always super hott with like 98% humidity, nobody speaking English, not a car in sight, no t.v. no heated water, only carbonated water, most awesome, amazing , humble, grateful, and fun place I have ever been.  They gave us one of the greatest gifts a parent can give, a lesson and shared love for service. Something I never will forget.

And the memory I will keep always with me, after building the k-12 school bathrooms for the school for the first time ever, the school threw a thank you ceremony for us involving cultural dancing, food, speeches and thank you's.  After all was said and done the people of this little town were allowed to come and thank us and give us hugs, and I 

 will never forget... this little girl about 7 or 8 came to me with open arms, greeted me with a kiss on each cheek and in barely understandable English with a tear in her Eye said "Thank you" and then she handed me two things... a scrunchie hair tie, and an old beat up worn out stuffed animal with a pull string that no longer worked. I tried to give them back to her and she refused. She was so sincere. I had never seen that look in someoned eyes. I had never been a part of something that impacted someone so completely. With another hug and a goodbye she walked away. I cant even explain the feelings I had, This little girl who had NOTHING, was giving me all she had. I was completely stunned. Why cant I do that? Why cant I give all I have! I have a long way to go in life and many lessons to learn. No way am I even close, but I hope to always keep that little girl in my heart and remember to give whenever I can and pass it along to my children. 

Someday I hope we can have the same experiences with our kids. There is so much love in service. You cant help but feel it anytime you help someone. Who even needs to go far away? There is enough tradgedy going on right here! 

 Max and I will make it over to Portugal! Hope its sooner than later, but either will be fine.

"Blessed are they who can Give without Remembering, and Receive without Forgetting"

Reflection for a great reunion!

Sooo... excited for this weekend. Why? you ask..

because for the first time since my wedding my entire family, brothers sisters nieces and nephews and parents will all be gathering at our cabin this weekend! And I am so excited! It will be so fun watching Ryder and Donna play and Max and Lily interact! To tell you the truth I miss the most my brothers and little Brooke bein away!

I remember all growing up I wanted to do everything with my brothers! I wanted to follow them, do the same things the were doing, I always tied to act like the "cool" little sister so they would let me hang around when their came over...even as far as to go to the gym with them every morning at 4:00 am on school days and let Milo feed me Protein Shakes (Yuck...)
They were always such great examples to me and still are! I can remember countless nights where Marc and I would sit up and talk about our Dilemmas he had become my best friend and im not sure he ever even knew it! When they all (even Marc) ended up moving to Provo for school and then went on missions I wondered if it would ever be the same again I was so sad. Then I graduated and Bam... I promise I was up there about every other week for the first few months! And I was right... It all had changed.
But it was in a good way! I was an Adult and they treated me like one! Ha kinda embarrassing but I still felt like that little girl who just wanted to be around my cool older brothers.

My favorite was when Marc came back from his mission. Megan was still around when he got home and they obviously started hittin it off right away.
It was so awesome... Just like old times. Marc would come in my room everynight and wake me up just to tell me what an amazing girl he found and all the great qualities she had... and I remember the big night when he said "I am going to ask her to Marry me, any Ideas? It has to be way different and Crazy... I want to surprise her" It was the saddest thing, because as much as I loved Megan I was so scared I was losing my best friend. Who would I talk to about my decisions. The things I couldnt talk to anyone else about. (About what I was going to do when Max came home). Well it all worked out as you can see.
Because I married my Best friends Best Friend.
Every moment with all my brothers made me want to be a better person, to treat others better.

Life Lessons From my Brothers:

It doesnt matter who they are or what they look like,they are a person. And every person deserves a Smile

Treat everyone the same, always have a good time and in every conversation laugh atleast once

Movie nights are boring, go do something Crazy

Be who you are and not who others want you to be. Even if you were 500lbs, If your confident, everyone will love to be around you!

Anytime somebody starts to talk about someone, say something nice about the person and then make a joke and laugh. Even if its Dumb.

Girls that have good posture are 1,000 times better looking than those that Slouch.

Dress Modestly, how you dress portrays the type of person you are. Most guys motto - "If I can see it... I can touch it" So cover up every inch of that skin.

I love my brothers and am so grateful for the friendships I have made with them! I cant wait to see them this weekend and give them and their wives and kids big hugs! I cant believe we have kids now... where has time gone!
I Love my older brothers
I love all the years and I look forward to more!

The Shabby Apple Competition!

Disclaimer- I'm not and Artist ... so put in your chic goggles here for a minute while I explain what i'm thinking...

What do you think? This is my Entry for the Shabby Apple Dress Competition!
I hope I win!! Because I would love to own this dress! Because its about time someone made a modest dress for Long Torso'd people like myself and others I know! Right? I want to make it in a lightweight breezy fabric like Rayon with Cotton and It will be forgiving And only hug the good places and be forgiving in the rest... With cute 3/4 rolled sleeves and a perfectly embellished addition of buttons, a slightly popped collar for statement(optional) Who wouldn't want this dress? Do you follow my thinking? Ha I have this image in my head... Does anyone else see it?

Inspired flapper... but I want it in a Cream or White or sp=ome spring color that makes ou think.... gosh that girl looks comfortable in that dress... and I want it Chic! Dolled up with some Pearls! Oh How I love Pearls...

Anyway besides me doing this contest... all you LDS girls out there in need of modest-wear... go check them out... You wont regret it... if nothing else... its just a little Eye candy Oh and they have Maternity!!!

The Shabby Apple

Quick catch up..!

So I guess I should say what our family has been up to! Sorry I have been terrible at updating lately!!

So here it goes!

As of late... Max and I took that trip to thatcher with family which was a fun little get-a-way!

Max got together with some old friends and played a little football! I think guys miss highschool football more than they are willing to admit! Its so fun to see them get all excited and competitive again... Brings back memories!

I am LOVING being a mom! Max got his first tooth today! I knew right away... today when he bit me instead of just some slobber... mommy got a little razor! But who cares! My boy gots teeth! We danced around the family room for the next five minutes...

Oh what excites a mom! Good thing he wont remember how wierd we are with him now... Ha that is if we mature at all over the years! Too many fun moments.

And last but not least... every moment my little man closes his eyes... I take off to my craft room to take on my next crafters challenge! I watch for them everywhere and just cant get enough of how any things there are in the world to create! But I make too much stuff... Hence, - My 2nd love after my Family - Pepperblossom Decor!

I never knew I had such a passion for creating! I always loved scrapbooking and being surrounded by such a crafty family (new amazing projects almost every month, and an overload of them every family reunion) I couldnt help but become one of the Crafters!

So our next Open House is this Saturday (Sept 26th) and I am super excited because its the Holidays! I live for the Holidays!! I promise you If I was allowed to be carried away  with the decorations... you wouldnt see a baron wall in my house (tastefully done anyway)... but I have promised my husband I will not take after my loving mother who has a mini-storage deticated to her decorations... But hey I have a feeling this year I may get my hands on some!! (Love you Mom!) Anyway we have like 15 vendors this boutique and through october we will have around 30 different coming to participate a la mi Casa! Its so fun! So party at my house every weekend in October!

Anyway! We are living a blissful life! Trials come and go but they make all the good times even Better! Hope its not so long till my next entry! Ciao.

Royalty in the family...

So what started in just a fun activity for a girl and some roomates turned out to be completely sureal and possibly.. life changing! 

Last weekend after the boutique of course :), all us

 Germaine's loaded in the car and headed on over to Thatcher Az. Home of not alot of people and not very known valleywide except those that have heard of Eastern Arizona University or have roots there. We headed off to go support Lynsee in he quest to become Miss Graham County and recieve a scholarship. Mostly she was doing it because it

 was going to be a neat expreience and heck.. why n

ot! But what was totally unexpected is that when me got there... this pageant stuff was the REAL DEAL! I always wondered where the Miss America girls started from! Well this is it!

 So after a fun night of cheering and watching some amazing girls share their passion for life Lynsee Germaine was crowned Miss Graham County! Amazing huh! All of us going thinking we know she could win.. but there are probably girls who are ALL ABOUT THE PAGEANTS who are going to be there... but that was no competition for her!

My Highlight of the evening was her answer to her misc question:

"Lynsee, if you could ask Pres. Obama one question, what would it be?"

Without even thinking twice Lynsee responded with...

"I would ask him,'What in the World are you thinking about health care!!!'" If you didnt know.. my father'n'law is a family physician. We have strong feelings on this subject!

Needless to mention the crown went nuts! Oh how I loved it! 

Then Sunday morning before takin off She and her roommates made us breakfast Yummy it was! And we got a family picture in front of Pres. Kimballs Hous

e! What a fun weekend! It is so amazing to be able to be so blessed to be able to just take off and go somewhere with all the family and have a good time. Alot of families dont ever have the opportunity to do that and I am truly grateful! Love you all! Hope all is well!

Searching for our new AMIGO!

I know its a little early.... BUT... im just too excited! Here's the plan! - 

Max and I decided in J-January it will be time to add a new friend to our CASA and our familia! And we know just who it will be... well sorta!!....

Isn't he so cute!  Have any of you seen the goodie flick Turner and HOOCH? It has been one of Max's desires for years to be the owner of a Dogue de Bordeaux AKA French Mastiff! They are such sweet dogs and are so adorable! I'm ecstatic! Hope to find you soon little Amigo!