For those who don't know...

Irey didn't have her surgery this past Monday like we were planning!
WHY?
Because my baby who never gets sick... got sick. So this pushed surgery back for four weeks. New surgery date is December 2nd! But she has to stay healthy for these next for weeks in order to have surgery. Conclusion, I don't plan on it till spring. Haha ok that is really pessimistic. I am just struggling with all this. It is such a emotional roller coaster ride I am on. We had set 4 surgery dates and we have been trying to get it schedules since May. I know surgery is the right thing for her but as her mom the closer it gets the more anxiety and fear I feel. It's just knowing whats to come and how hard it will be to see my baby with tubes in her mouth and wires hooked up to her. I keep preparing myself emotionally for something that is starting to feel like it's never going to happen. I feel so let down every time it falls through. So once it is all said and done I will feel overjoyed and SO relieved!
In a way it was a blessing in disguise that the surgery didn't happen because we ended up MOVING this past week...
We have been trying to sell our condo and had A LOT of response, just not the right number we were looking for. So we decided to rent it out and take on the responsibility of a rental property. We listed it on KSL and 2 days later we had renters signing a contract. It was just so meant to be. It couldn't have worked out better.
Now we are living in Mark and Jackie's basement (aka: mom and dad). They were kind enough to let us invade all there extra space. People keep asking, how it going... Well it's been awesome. It's like going to stay at a really nice hotel that you never want to leave, except we don't have to leave... yet anyways. It has been a big blessing for me more then anyone because I was always feeling so lonely while Brandon was working so much but now there is always someone home to keep Irey and I company.
The goal is to find a house, put my salon in it, move in, and make more babies. Yes in that order and the more babies part isn't nessessarily soon... this is more like a 3 to 5 year plan. We hope to find a home with in the next few months and have already started looking. There is a few that I like and one that I LOVE but no one can understand why... it needs a little elbow grease but I can see the end result in my mind!
So that is the current status on the Blackwell family! Keep checking back for more update on the surgery date and the house hunt! And any tips in what are something you don't typically think of when buying a house but you wish you did... let me know!

Halloween In All it's Glory!

Like every year Halloween is a busy time for us! There is just so many fun things to cram into such a small amount of time we ended up getting more then enough Halloween celebration!
Thursday Corey hosted a Halloween party for our play group. The kids decorated sugar cookies and we had some pizza. Us moms need the play group as much if not more then our kids!

Camie made Irey this CUTE blanket for when she goes into surgery (it was suppose to be Monday but didn't happen, more on that later). She instantly loved it and now it is THE blanket she falls asleep with. Thanks again Camie, you are way too nice!

Later that night we went to Gillman's to carve pumpkins. I ended up carving all 3 because Irey and sharp objects is just a scary thought and Brandon got busy getting our house packed up to move (more on that later too).

It was fun sitting around chatting while attempting to make our pumpkins look at least some what scary!?

Friday night we had Jamie's annual Halloween Party. This year it was a MURDER MYSTERY DINNER!

I was Miss Scarlett, a FAMOUS actress. Brandon was my date, the Inspector Mr. Black! He did awesome and really tried to get into his part! I love that guy... even with a NASTY mustache (that he LOVED)!

Not only was there a murder of the maid Cookie, but there was also a Jewel thief. And by the end of the night we had figured out who the thieves were AND the murderer!

Her husband was sleeping with the maid, Cookie, and it was more then she could handle, so she shot her in the kitchen with the gun!

It was a LOT OF FUN! Jamie and Meg did a awesome job pulling this off. Let me just say, WOW, it was a lot of work for those poor girls but it was well worth the effort! Thanks again you two, your the bestest!

Saturday, Halloween, we all went to my mom's house. We started off by making caramel apples. Well I made them, Amy assisted and everyone else watched and enjoyed eating them! They were really easy, yummy, and a LOT of fun.

Traditional Family picture in front of mom's fireplace!

Traditional baby group picture! ALL THREE BABIES WERE SO SICK! So hence why ALL of them look like they are really bugged by us making them sit still and listen to us scream and yell to get them ALL to look! You have no idea how hard it is to get these three to coordinate!

Well, FINALLY it was time to go trick or treating!

This was Irey's first time and she was a natural! She had a pink bucket that said "Diva" on it, so appropriate. She saw Hunter do it once and then knew just what to do. She loved it. It was a lot of fun as her mom and dad to watch our little baby act like such a big girl!

She even would stop and inspect the goods! She had us laughing because she knew what this was all about. Go to the door and get candy, so simple that yes, even a baby can do it!

It was really cute to see Irey and Brandon together, partners in crime. I love the sweet relationship they have, they are best buds! And best of all they adore each other! As the mom/wife it's a lot of fun to watch.

Afterward we came back and watched a movie. Dad may have dominated the trick or treating but mom is always the one to snuggle and make you warm! She was a lot of fun this year! It keeps me excited for more years to come. This Halloween was perfect and we were able to start some real fun traditions that I cant wait to do every year for years to come!

THRILLER!!!

Can I just say how much FUN I have with my mom and sisters! It's been too long since we have gotten together just us girls. So for GNO we went to Thriller, mom's treat, thanks again mom!

We went to Chili's for dinner. Typically NOT my most favorite place in the world, until I tried their salad, now I have had a serious change of heart!

We FINALLY got to the theater. Parking was a joke, no seriously, we were laughing to tears. But that's another story. We were really excited for the show to start. While waiting....

We practiced our "scared" faces. Jackie clearly needs more practice but we are working on it! Love you mom.

Don't we look terrified... well we should because the "Zombie People" were CREEPY!

See what I mean?

This was taken on the car ride home. After, I wrestled Amy for the front seat (causing quite a scene and laughing our butts off the whole time), and then the NAVIGATION (not me) got us lost and took us to Reno. Ok, Jackie and I struggle!

It was such a fun night. Not just because Thriller is a really fun show but because whenever us sisters get together we just have a BLAST! Thanks again mom for treating us to such a fun night. And thanks ladies for being my sisters, my gal pals, the people I call to tell whatever is on my mind at the moment, and my best friends! Couldn't have survived life with out ya!

My Family is Forever

One year ago today. October 25th, these two amazing people became mine, forever!

Today was our Primary Program at church. I am in the presidency so I was up helping the kids. The theme was on Eternal Families. When the kids started singing, Families can be together forever, I started thinking about how lucky I am to have my eternal family. That's when I lost it and started crying in front of those poor sunbeams. I couldn't help but feel so dumb sitting on stage blubbering like a baby.

I can't say enough about how blessed I feel to know that not even the bonds of death can keep me a part from the two people I love more in this whole world. I love them to no end and the fact that we have forever to be together gives me so much peace and comfort. As we prepare for Irey's surgery in a week I am comforted by the fact that no matter what happens to her, she is mine to keep for eternity, and I can't say enough as a mother to know how amazing that feels.

Today I am reminded of my temple blessings and what a gift they are to me. I normally don't get very religious on my blog because I am not like that but I wanted to document my love and gratitude for this tremendous gift I have in my life.

I am so grateful that my family is forever!

Some Fun Things This Week...

Brandon and I LOVE this time of year! From October to December, there is always something fun and festive going on! The best part about this time of year is experiencing new things with Irey. Brandon and I have been making some fun family traditions for Irey and our future little ones to enjoy!

There is this house on 1600 north in Orem that sells pumpkins. Since the beginning of the month I have been telling Brandon how cute I thought it was and how excited I was to carve pumpkins with Irey. One night Brandon suggested we finally go get those pumpkins we have been talking about.

We got three. A daddy, a mama, and a baby pumpkin for each of us. It was really cute to see Irey get all excited and try to carry her pumpkin around. We decided that this will be one of our family traditions we will make a big deal about. Get our hot apple cider and take the kids pumpkin picking and then right before Halloween we can all carve them.

Just wait till you see the pumpkin carving party! I am making my whole family get involved!

(she is mad because there were no more fruit snacks! I just love her expressions)

We went out to eat a bunch this week with all the birthday celebrations and keeping Irey entertained is a task. Brandon, who still thinks like a kid (I love it about him, really), got the idea to put all of Irey's fruit snacks on her straw. She thought this was more interesting then throwing them on the floor and picked them off one by one and ate them. She had like 10 in her mouth at once and her cheeks kept getting fuller and fuller. I was worried she was going to choke but was laughing too hard at her fat cheeks! With little trouble at all she ate ever last one and then was mad when they were gone! Props to dad for thinking of creative ways for keeping Miss Piggy busy!

Irey's latest "thing" is grandma Jackie! She is obsessed to say the least. At Luke's party she preferred her to anyone else, even me (tear)! And when we took family pics the next day she would only let grandma hold her. If dad or I took her, she was in a fit, and it would take a lot of distraction to calm her down! She is SUCH a stinker. I love that she loves grandma so much though. It's neat that they have that bond and I know we will look back on those family pics and laugh because she was such a grandma's girl!

Happy 21st Brittanie

Brittanie turned 21 today! She is finally, officially an adult.

For Brits birthday we went to Rod Lobster to celebrate. Our 2nd time in a week because it's Luke's favorite restaurant too!
Brit and I joke that we are actual sisters because in both of our families we are the only ones with dark hair and the rest are blondes! But Brit is as much of a sister to me as one of my own blood. She has been living up in northern Utah working, going to school, and meeting the man of her dreams! She is going to be married in less then a month to Mike! I feel bad that with a wedding so close that it overshadows such a big birthday. But it doesn't make it any less special.
Brandon and Britt butt heads a little growing up but after his mission they grew real close and I know he was so grateful for that opportunity to befriend his little sister before getting married. When Brandon and I were dating, Britt and I got a chance to hang out all the time and became good friends and I was so grateful for the chance to get to know her and become close! She is so much fun and the few moments we get to hang is always a blast!

Britt happy 21st birthday! We sure love ya!

2 Years With the One I love!

Brandon and I celebrated our two year anniversary on October 20th!

Every time I think of Brandon and look back on our beginning, to now, I think of that country song, "I thought I loved you then, Now you’re my whole life, now you’re my whole world. I just can’t believe the way I feel about you. And I thought I loved you then"

I remember the first time I knew I couldn't live with out him. I remember the first time I knew that I had found a man that is perfect for me. Two + years later I am still in awe that I have this man who is even MORE perfect for who I am as time goes on. We mold together more and more. I love that I found that man that makes my life put a fairy tell to shame. We may not have a lot but I feel like with him I have everything I need.

I feel like I have known him so long before we met. I feel like he is my oldest friend, so when I say "I cant believe it's ONLY been two years!!!" I mean it in a good way. We have been through SO much for the first two years of our start. I am proud to have his hand to hold and to call him mine! I feel so blessed to have a honorable man who is good to me!

Brandon thanks for sticking by my side and making my life what it is. I don't even want to think where I would be with out you! Thank you for supporting me in my most current goal and pushing my to always be my better self. And when I am not my best self thanks for being my better half!

Happy Birthday Luke!

October 18th 1984 Luke James Gillman was born into the world... and then some how he got stuck with us!?
Luke has been a part of my family for the longest out of any of the in-laws! Going on 7 years now and he still hasn't run scared. Luke is the strong silent type but sometimes we can bring out a wild side to him that makes you cry laughing!
Luke had a good heart and is one of the best guys I know. He is the big brother I always wanted and even though he isn't the biggest talker he is one of my favorite people to talk to because he always makes me laugh. I love how Luke always has a kind word to say. He is so talented and is just plain AMAZING (hunting, xbox, golfing, building homes, you get what I mean) at whatever he does. Not only is he talented but he uses those talents to help out whoever, whenever he can.
I just can't say enough about how great of a guy he is. I am so grateful that he found Jamie and has stuck by her side through the thick and thin! He is the perfect balance to her and makes her a even stronger better person. What more could you want for your sister?

So Luke, Happy Birthday! We sure love ya!

This is the Dough that Never Ends...

As I have said in a previous post, I am on a cooking/baking kick, and now the kick has turned into obsession and my obsession has taken over my kitchen!
On Saturday morning I thought it would be fun to try a recipe I found for homemade doughnuts. It was a challenging recipe but a lot of fun and the doughnuts, from what I heard, tasted delicious.
Well I was feeling ambitious that day, I even went to the gym, and I decided if I could conquer those doughnuts I could probably make Aunt Kay's AMAZING roll recipe. They are famous in our family and I wanted to extend the fame to my in-laws and make some for Sunday dinner.
I sadly only had my little hands to knead the dough and Brandon's assistance in adding more flour when needed (thanks for the help love). When I was given the recipe I was told to half it, but I thought that since I was making it for my little family PLUS my husbands family it's better to have too much then too little...
I just didn't think it would be THIS much!

Two cookie sheets full of rolls... right there is more then enough for my husbands family!

ANOTHER cookie sheet of rolls, I guess that will last us for dinner the rest of the week. But then there are 3 pans of bread sticks! I made bread sticks because I ran out of cookie sheets. Then when I ran out of pans I STILL had MORE DOUGH!

So I made a Creamy BBQ Chicken Pizza from scratch! I spent 90% of the day in the kitchen with my overwhelming amount of dough to keep me busy! My oven has never been put to work more. And I had to face reality that my kitchen is just too small to accomplish my baking ambitions!

With ALL this food I am so grateful to have our awesome friends to help us out and take some of it off our hands! Gar and Lisa came over to watch the BYU game and got to fill up on homemade pizza and bread sticks. We are close enough that I am almost sure Gar wouldn't eat 4 pieces by himself if he didn't like it, so thanks for the compliment Gar! Oh and Brandon too, he definitely helped out!

Everyone ate the wonderful food but me... SIGH. I ate a salad, salmon, and some fruit... oh joy!

Irey really liked the pizza too!

I felt like a 50's housewife, wearing my apron all day and baking. I even served my husband and guests their food. I am just sorry I didn't have a kitchen tabled to serve it on, we sold ours.

(I love that Irey's little face is peeking in from the backround)

This is my mountain of rolls waiting to be zip-locked and put away. Brandon had to run to the store because I forgot to buy them, story of my life!

Even though I basically spent a day in the kitchen, I loved it. I am so weird,I know, but I just think it's one of those things you discover about yourself later on... and once you do your are really excited and maybe even over the top for a little while? I never would have thought it so much fun. I think I mostly enjoy the sense of accomplishment that I get from it! And believe me, Figuring out what to do with all that dough would make anyone feel accomplished!

She works hard for the money....

Today Irey came to work with me. Most of the time she goes to one of her grandma's but today we had a play date right after so she tagged along. For the most part she is really good whenever she comes with mom to work. She loves to play at the salon and I love that my job allows me to take her with me. Today was funny because she normally wants to escape and go upstairs and play with the kids but instead today she hung around me and wanted to read her books. She has a new obsession with them and we have to take all 10, yes 10, with us EVERYWHERE (like mother, like daughter). She fell asleep on the couch while "reading". She at first was all slumped over with those chubby cheeks resting on her chest, it was so sweet, then in her slumber found a more comfy position reclined back.
It just made me think about how blessed I am to have such a good kid. She definitely has her moments, like all 18 month old, but for the MOST part she is awesome! I love how she can just tag along with mom wherever I go and is my little pal. We get A LOT done in one day from work, to grocery shopping, to the bank, to the mall, and back to the grocery store (because I ALWAYS forget SOMETHING) she is a trooper. It just makes me smile to see her passed out on the couch because I realize she is right there with me working hard too! I just wish I could catch a nap at work... or even a second to sit down would be nice haha.

I love you Irey! Your a doll.