Para Tio Ariel...

Happy Birthday Chip!

I won't say how old Chip turned because I believe that after a certain age you don't tell what number birthday it is :) Chip's birthday was on Saturday, February 27th but we decided to celebrate with family only on the 26th. We went out to P.F. Changs with our cousins and had such a good time. I will miss the girls and the husbands so much when we leave. It is always such a blast to catch up on pop culture, politics, and our life's quirky moments. The girls talked about the Bachelorettes while the guys talked about how lame we were for watching the show. I love it! Then on Saturday, we celebrated his birthday at Pirate Island which is a pizza/arcade restaurant with some of his closest friends, some of which he hadn't seen in several years so needless to say it was very pleasant for Chip to catch up with them. Like always, I forget to pull out my camera until the night is almost over. These are the only pictures that I have; I will have to ask some of our friends for their pictures. Kamila was given a little bite of the delicious chocolate cake that Mel made and boy, was she hyper! She did not want to stop eating it and got very angry when I would not give her anymore. She was also very taken by the glimmering candles on Chip's birthday cake. Chippy, may you have many, many more memorable birthdays. We love you so much!

7 months and counting...

Little Miss K is 7 months old. Already. Sigh. She is growing up too fast. I often just pause the clock in my own little world to stare at this beautiful little soul and analyze, memorize, and treasure her little features: her cherub nose, her twinkling eyes, her delicate mouth, her rosy cheeks. Kamila, you are the the most beautiful gift that Heavenly Father has ever bestowed upon me. You have definitely changed our lives. We love your sweet and tender spirit.

More February crafting...

I think I'm addicted again. When Chip and I first got married, I would spend most of my money on decorations at Robert's which payed off because now I have a not-too-shabby arsenal of cute little things to put up year round. However, now that I am realllyyyy trying to be frugal and not so conspicuous with my spending, I am trying to make my own decorations and I must say that I l-o-v-e it. I could craft all day, every day. It is so nice to just do something without having to think about anything but what you are working on that moment. I get so busy with being a mother, wife, school, and ME (in that order) that when I get a chance to do something totally selfish (in a good way) it is so refreshing. I only wish that I could do it more often. Maybe I will learn to manage my time more wisely so that I can become the SuperMom that I want to be for my beautiful little angel. By the way, she is now 7 months! Crazy!!! Where does time go? I will be posting pictures of her tomorrow I hope. If not, I will on Friday after she has a photoshoot with my friend Heather (which I am so excited about- she does the cutest baby pictures!) I digressed again...where was I? Oh yes. Crafting. I made this wreath. I think it's pretty dang cute. What do you think? Now I need to figure out what to make for March.....

Speaking of New Beginnings...

I'm officially a brunette! Again. It is so strange to see myself in the mirror; I feel like I'm a totally different person. I've even scared myself a couple of times when I wander into the w.c. in the middle of the night and see this pale being with dark, messy hair looking back at me. Chip has been asking me to dye my hair "my natural color" (which, may I clarify, this is definitely NOT my natural hair color! It is no way near this dark) for a loooonnggg time now so being the world's best wife that I am, I conceded much to his delight and to my dismay. Well, maybe not too much dismay. I like it some days and others I really wish bleach and my hair would reconnect. I digress. Anyway, not a lot of novelty around the Price household recently but a week ago my sisters, brother-in-law and some friends came up from El Paso for the weekend to snowboard and mostly, to see Kami. She is so spoiled by her aunts and uncle! As always, time went by too fast and they happened to be here the same weekend that we had J.R.'s funeral so the circumstances were not optimal, but I will take any time I can to be with my cute sisters. I love them so much. I could have no other girlfriends and I would still be perfectly content because I would still have my best friends.
Kami is almost 7 months and she is such a sweetie. I love her to death. She makes me smile and has become my little faithful companion when Chip is not home. Chip is being such a sport and champ as he watches her while I am at school, then heads off to work so that I can be a student and stay at home wife.
School is coming along quite nicely (straight A's I would like to add ;)- go me!) ; this is my last official semester of school and then I only have to do 8 weeks of student teaching at an elementary school (we are still trying to figure out if we will be moving to Texas or Arizona this Summer) and I'M DONE!!!! It's very exhilarating to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am so grateful for my wonderful husband who kept me going by motivating and supporting me throughout these past 3 years. I adore you Chip.
Speaking of the most awesome husband, I made a countdown for Valentine's Day at a monthly craft night that I have with girlfriends from school. Every day there is a treat with a note for Chip to open. Isn't it cute?! I love crafting and wish I had more time to do so. Maybe once I am done with school I will have the time and money to dedicate myself to my neophyte artistic side. I have decided that I want to become a little Martha Stewart and this will be another goal to add to this years list...along with learning Italian (I would love to be at least trilingual), learning to sew, becoming a baby food culinary artist, reading the Book of Mormon and Bible in depth and with a study guide (it makes all the difference in the world!), and getting my pre-baby -actually, pre-marriage- body back. Lots to do, so little time. Better stop blabbering and get to it! Happy New Year! :)

Christmas Pictures

Im sad that I do not have any pictures from our time in Arizona! However, I will steal some from my sisters-in-law and post them. These are the ones that I have from El Paso.

New Beginnings

New Year, New Beginnings...so much to write about in so little time. I wish I could find the time to do everything I want to do. Before I let my wishful thinking take over, I'll recap the holidays. Kamila and I flew to El Paso about a week before Chip was able to make it down just in time for Christmas Eve. How I love you Chippy. Always willing to spend time without us so that I can spend much needed and longed for time with my family. Its so hard to live so far away from them; they are such a big happiness factor in my life that I really have had to learn to cope with being separated from them. Im so grateful for what a wonderful husband you are. Time in El Paso went by so fast; unfortunately things don't always go as planned and this Christmas was no exception...but that is another story not worth going into. The important thing is that we were able to spend time with each other and with my grandparents who won't be around for too much longer. At least that is the situation with my grandfather. He has had a brain tumor for as long as I can remember;the day right before we left to Arizona (where we would be spending New Year's with the Prices) he had a fall, was rushed to the ER and was in the ICU for a couple of days. We weren't sure if he would live to see another year. He was then diagnosed with brain cancer and prostate cancer. My heart felt like it was being ripped out. Not only was I being separated from him and my family by miles, but now I might be separated from him for the remainder of his life.Fortunately, to this day he is still fighting the good fight. New Years was also very special. I realized that there are far more things in this life to be grateful for than we care to acknowledge and strive to be worthy of. We spend too much time being selfish, only thinking about what WE need, what WE want,what WE don't have, how WE feel, how WE have been wronged. How many hearts could be mended, prayers answered, and days brightened if we would only put our own desires and emotions aside to think of others and the needs that they have. This past week our cousin on Chip's side, J.R. passed away after battling with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Some would call it tragic; he was only 23 with a full life ahead of him. Other will call it divine intervention. I choose to agree with this latter postulation. Im so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and to have the knowledge that we have not lost him, but that he has been called home, to our Heavenly Father's presence to complete a different mission. What a wonderful thing it is to know that if we are faithful to covenants made in the house of the Lord we are promised that we will be with our families forever. That is my soapbox thought for the year.