Adventure Calls

Text Message

2012-02-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

Friday, June 6, 2008

Text Message (5:00 pm)

Him: Whenever you get a break and check your phone, just wanted to tell you you're wonderful :)

Me: Well, that was a nice note to open up to, thank you!

Him: Just did a google search on my name and came across your blog. You are so sweet!

Me: LOL! That's funny! Surprise! I have a blog and you're on it!

*Click here* to be taken to the blog post of when I introduced Shanam to the world :)

How I Met Love, Play Date, Part 2

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

What better place to go and feel like a kid again than Walt Disney World! :) I had scored two tickets to the Pirate Princess Party at Magic Kingdom that night and was so excited to take Shanam. The entire park closed at 7:00 pm, but remained open until 2:00 am for the people who had tickets to the party.

"When's the last time you were at Magic Kingdom?" I asked Shanam, once we had showered and changed.

"Oh gosh, like 10 years ago, probably" He answered, having to think about it for a bit.

I tried to sound like the cheesiest announcer I could, "Well, it's you're lucky day! Yoooouuuu're going to Disney World!"

"Awesome! Really?"

"Want to know the best part?! I've got tickets to the Pirate Princess Party. There'll be hardly any lines, so we can ride whatever rides we want, however many times we want to ride them!" I said, knowing that the lines were the worst part about going to the parks. "I've made dinner reservations for 5 o'clock, though, so we've got to go!"

"I don't know how this day could get any better." He said, pulling me in for a kiss.

"It just did." I said as we pulled apart.

We arrived at Tony's Town Square Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom just in time for our reservation. I thought this would be a fun place to dine since the restaurant was inspired by the Italian trattoria where Lady and the Tramp shared spaghetti and a kiss. We, of course, ordered a plate of spaghetti to share along with a delicious appetizer and dessert. I didn't go so far as to make him share a noodle with me, though. :)

The rest of the day was spent acting like kids.

We rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 3 times in a row.

Held hands while going around on the Carousel.
He was even a good sport and wore the pirate mickey ears!

Gave each other whiplash on the Speedway.

And made ourselves sick on the Tea Cups.

We rode almost every ride and decided to head home after the firework show.

"Man, no one does fireworks like Disney does fireworks." I said as we walked out of the park. "I will never get tired of watching that show!"

"That's for sure! That was amazing. The whole day was amazing!" Shanam said, squeezing my hand. He pulled me in closer and let go of my hand so he could squeeze his arm around my shoulders, instead.

I wrapped my arm around his waist and leaned my head against him. "I'm so glad you're with me. I always feel so content when I'm with you."

"I feel the same way. What did we ever do without each other?" He said smiling.

"I don't know, but I know I don't ever want to be without you again." I said smiling back.

How I Met Love, Play Date, Part 1

2012-02-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

I was so glad that Shanam's work schedule was so flexible because that Wednesday (my usual day off) I had a full day of fun planned for us. Things had been stressful for him at work that week and I wanted to give him a day where he could just relax and be carefree. He had no idea what we were doing. The only thing I told him was to bring his swimsuit, a change of clothes, and a playful attitude.

"So, what are we doing?" He asked first thing when he walked in the door. He couldn't stand the anticipation. He had been begging me all week to tell him what I had planned.

I laughed. "I'll tell you, but first you have to sign this waiver." The previous year my friend, Mica, had given me a copy of a "Certificate of the Right to Play" that she had made for her fiance, and I loved the idea. I kept it in my folder of important documents and thought that this was the perfect time to use it :)

*click on the picture to enlarge*

He read over it, chuckling at some of the parts, and took the crayon I offered him. He signed his name while shaking his head.

"You are too funny!" He said.

"I told you to come with a playful attitude." I said as I signed my own name next to his. "This is going to be a day where you forget all your worries and get to be a kid again."

"Sounds good to me! So, what are we doing first? I'm now really intrigued as to what you have planned."

"First, we put on our swimsuits and head over to the Yacht and Beach Club." I said with a mischievous smile. Working at Disney World gave me lots of privileges, one of which was access to any pool at any of the 17 Walt Disney World resorts. The Yacht and Beach Club Resort had the best pool on Disney property and I was so excited to explore it with Shanam. And that was just the beginning! We were going to enjoy and explore as many resort pools as we could fit into our afternoon. We were going pool-hopping!

Three things made the pool at the Yacht and Beach Club the best: the huge pirate ship slide, the whirlpool/lazy river, and the fact that it was a sand bottom pool. So cool! We thoroughly enjoyed all three aspects and also enjoyed the mini waterfall in the corner where we made sure to steal some kisses. :) I loved being close to him and wrapping my legs all the way around him, feeling totally weightless. As he carried me on his back while floating through the lazy river, it felt like we were the only ones in that pool. The splashing kids disappeared and we laughed and giggled like we were the only children having the time of their lives.

After swimming, we treated ourselves to some delicious ice cream cones from a cute little ice cream parlor called Beaches and Cream, picked up our stuff and headed out to our next resort, The Boardwalk. We meandered, hand in hand, across the boardwalk that connected the two resorts, enjoying every lick of our ice cream cones :)

The Boardwalk Resort had a clown slide that was made to look like a carnival roller coaster, but it wasn't very fast. We only stayed for a little while then decided to go over to the Saratoga Springs Resort where they had a better slide. Our last stop was the Old Key West Resort. They have a little-known sauna hidden in one of the lighthouses so that was where we spent most of our time, enjoying the steam and the privacy. :)

"This has been such a fun day. Thank you so much!" Shanam said. As we sat on the wooden slats, he played with my hand, tracing the outline of my fingers. He loved doing this because he knew how sensitive my hands were. I pulled my hand away quickly, shaking it so the pins and needles feeling would go away.

I laughed, "Knock it off! You know how I can't stand that!" He was always teasing me, partly because he didn't understand how it felt and he got a kick out of seeing my reaction. He loved when I played and tickled his hands and arms. "And you're welcome. I'm glad you've had such a fun day. Planning this day is the least I can do after all the awesome dates you've taken me on. But it's not over, yet!"

"There's more?!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, yes. Why do you think I had you bring a change of clothes?" I answered.

I then leaned in for a kiss and smiled.

"There's much more."

Text Message

2012-02-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Text Message (9:00 am)

Him: Good morning! Hope you're having a good yoga class!

Me: It was wonderful! Even without the comic relief this time :) Are you just waking up?

Him: No silly. Been up for some time. Gosh I miss you!

Me: You're so cute :) I love when you tell me you miss me. Then I know I'm not the only one feeling it :)

Me: I woke up this morning very sore. Back and butt felt it mostly :) You're probably fine, though

Him: Just wait til you get up for a while! It's a better workout than you think. Wait until I get you on the mountain :)

Me: Oh boy

(4:00 pm)

Him: Just wanted to let you know you've been on my mind all day

Me: You're so sweet :)

Him: Mom and dad really like you :) Dad said you were a keeper. Funny

Me: I'm sure my parents will say the same thing about you

Him: Ha! We'll have to see about that!

Me: I'm pretty confident :) Talk to you in a bit

How I Met Love, Wake Boarding

2012-02-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

Monday, May 26, 2008

We arose at 5:30 am and got ready for our morning on the water. Growing up, I had always preferred to be the flag girl on the boat, so I had never actually done any sort of water sports. I had gone inner tubing, but that doesn't require any skill other than to hold on for dear life. As I was getting ready, my nerves were jittery, but I didn't want Shanam to think I was one of those wimpy girls who preferred to watch from the boat, even though that's exactly what I was. I did have another side to me, though, that I was hoping would shine through. An adventurous side, where I liked to try new things and not pass up an opportunity to make the most of a situation. So, that's where I found myself, bright and early Monday morning. Shanam, on the other hand, was completely pumped and ready to go. Little did he know how anxious I really was.

"So, are you excited?!" Shanam asked on our drive to the boat dock.

"You betcha!" I responded, a little too enthusiastically. "Now it's your turn not to laugh at me too hard."

"I won't laugh at you! Well, maybe just a bit, but really, getting up is not as easy as it looks."

"Oh yeah, how long did it take you to get up?" I asked.

"It only took me once." he said smiling.

"Ha, so hard!"

"You've been snowboarding before, so that will help you." He assured me.

"We'll see." I said, hoping he was right.

He got out on the water first to show me how it was done. I absolutely loved watching him and enjoyed when he did jumps and tricks. He made it look so effortless. I really could have spent the entire time on the boat contently watching him have fun, but I knew it would be my turn soon.

He prepped me and walked me through the steps of getting up. It sounded easy enough, but unfortunately, I failed...miserably. After what seemed like hundreds of attempts, and lots of water up the nose, my arms and legs felt like they were about to fall off and I had to call it quits...without ever getting up. I did get closer to actually getting a feel for it, though, and felt sure that I could get up the next time we went out...if he gave me that chance.

They circled around to come get me out of the water and I looked up at him pathetically. "I'm so sorry. I just can't do it any more. My body hurts all over!"

He bent down and extended his hand out towards me to help me into the boat. "Don't worry about it, babe. You gave it your best shot. You'll get up next time." His smile, once again, made everything better.

"So, you still want to date me even though I couldn't get up?" I said once I was seated, wrapped in a towel. I was half joking, half serious.

He let out a hearty chuckle and gave me a look as if to say, "Oh, please."

We enjoyed another 20 minutes cruising around in the boat, riding over other people's wakes and making sharp turns. I loved feeling the wind in my hair and Shanam's strong arm around my shoulders. I felt secure knowing that he accepted me for the less-than-athletic person I was. I knew he wished I were more athletic and I also knew that if our relationship continued further that I would really need push myself. I was willing to go outside my comfort zone as long as he was willing to be patient and understanding. That day, he proved to be both. I was more than happy to discover this wonderful trait.

Text Message (Monday, June 2, 2008, 11:00 am)

Me: Look! I got up! I can wake board! I went out with some girlfriends this morning. I wish you could have seen me! You would have been so proud!

Him: Oh congrats! Yes, I wish I was there! How was it?

Me: So sweet! Thanks for being such a great teacher :)

Him: I am proud! You're great! Have fun!

How I Met Love, Sunday with the Family, Part 2

2012-02-07T05:16:00.000-08:00

We arrived at his parent's house and got right to work, helping set the table and preparing the food for our late lunch. I would soon find out that we were about to enjoy a family favorite, Salade Nicoise. Having served a mission in Southern France and knowing full well how wonderful this dish was, I was more than excited to hear that this was a family favorite! Before I could ask who was joining us, since I was asked to set the table for 8, Shanam's grandmother arrived with the marinated potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, and red onions and his aunt arrived with her family bringing hard boiled eggs and olives. I wasn't aware that this was going to be a full family get together but I welcomed the chance to get to know everyone!

"So, you must be the famous Bethany!" his grandmother said. "It's so nice to finally meet you!" She walked right over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek then a big hug, like I was already a part of the family.

"It's so nice to finally meet you!" I answered back, enjoying her warm welcome. She stood about a foot shorter than me with blond short hair and bright red lips. I loved her immediately :)

"And you must be Aunt Carol." I said to Shanam's aunt. "I'm so glad you're here so I could meet you and your family, too!"

"It's nice to meet you. This is my husband, Allen, and my son, Craig." she said pointing to her family next to her.

"Well, it looks like you've met everyone except for my sister, Elana. I told you my family wasn't very big compared to yours." Shanam said. "We all fit at one table!" He added, laughing.

With that, we all sat down and said a blessing on the food. I wished I'd had a camera with me to take a picture of my plate because it was absolutely beautiful! And, of course, it tasted divine! The conversation was light and fun as they all asked me questions. I, in turn, found out a lot about them. Just like it was with Shanam, the more I found out, the more I fell in love.

I could tell immediately that Shanam's mother was a very passionate woman. Her wide range of passion covered everything from family history to gardening, from healthy eating to emergency preparedness, from Waldorf education to personality temperaments, from religion to alternative medicine. She spoke with such enthusiasm about everything that I found myself completely enthralled with everything she had to say. I was sure I could spend hours talking with her and only scratch the surface of everything she was so eager to share with me. I had never met anyone like her!

Now, Shanam's father, I could tell, was also a wealth of knowledge. Although, he didn't share it in quite the same way. He was more quiet but would insert his comments and opinions whenever he got the chance. I enjoyed his abstract sense of humor and couldn't help but giggle at his corny puns. He and Shanam would often have their own side conversation about finances, politics or the newest invention, while the rest of us were discussing something else. One time I heard his father telling him about a car that ran on water instead of gas. He had actually looked into it and had a stack of documents explaining how it worked.

Watching their family's dynamics was so interesting to me and I couldn't wait to see how Elana fit in. As I was wondering what her personality was like and if we would get along as well as I got along with the rest of Shanam's family, his mother brought my attention back to the conversation.

"Did Shanam ever tell you that he called us the day after your first date and told us that was the best first date he had ever been on?" she said.

I looked at Shanam and smiled, "No, but I'd have to agree that it was my best first date, as well. What's even better, is the second date topped the first!" I looked at Shanam and said, "Now, we are talking about our first "real" date, right? Not our ice cream date?" We had an inside joke that the first time he met me for ice cream wasn't a "real" date, just a preliminary get-to-know-you date.

"Yes, of course." he said laughing. "And it really was the best date I'd ever been on."

His grandmother chimed in and said, "He even told me all about it! You sure made an impression on him."

"The feeling was mutual." I said, smiling at him, remembering how I had felt that night.

We all helped clear the table and slowly congregated to the family room where we made ourselves comfortable on the cushy sofas. Shanam sprawled out and laid his head on my lap, nudging me like a cat to play with his hair and scratch his back. It still amazed me at how open and affectionate he was in front of his family. We continued our discussion, talking about the different things we had done together and what we had planned for the next day. On our list of 100 things to do together was wake boarding. I had always wanted to try it but never had the opportunity to and Shanam went frequently with a good friend of his who owned a boat. He arranged for us to go early the next morning before I needed to head back to Orlando for work. I was looking forward to trying something new, but also a little nervous. It would be the first time Shanam would see that I wasn't quite the athletic type. Not like he was, anyway.

How I Met Love, Sunday with the Family, Part 1

2012-02-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Late Saturday night, I finally made it to Shanam's grandmother's house, where he was living at the time. I had worked until 11:00 pm and was exhausted by the time I pulled up to their house at about 1:00 am. Shanam showed me to the guest room and after a nice foot rub and back rub, I was ready for bed :)

"Wake up, sleepy head." Shanam said as he peeked inside the door the next morning.

My alarm had woken me up a few minutes before and I was trying to muster the strength to get out of bed. Seeing me in that helpless state, Shanam came in and jumped on top of me, giving me a tight squeeze. I laughed, but instead of pushing him off, I held on to him so he couldn't let go. We laid and cuddled for a bit, before realizing we really did need to get up and start getting ready. Shanam was one of the speakers at church that day and had invited me to come listen, then spend the day with his family. We quickly got ready and jumped in the car.

"So, what is your talk on?" I asked him.

"Testimony." He answered without giving any more information. I could tell he was deep in thought.

"That should be good. Are you all ready?"

"As ready as I can be." he answered. "I don't really write out what I'm going to say. I usually just jot down a few bullet points and see where it goes from there."

"Well, I'm sure you'll do a great job. I'm excited to hear what you have to say." I said.

"Haha. Don't set your expectations too high." Shanam was always saying comments that downplayed his talents.

"Whatever! Don't try to be humble. I have no doubt you'll do a fabulous job." I assured him. I did enjoy his humility, though. It showed he knew that the success of his talk wasn't all up to him, but that he needed the Lord's help to guide his words. I looked forward to this opportunity to see his spiritual side.

We entered the church building and found his parents already sitting in the congregation. I went over to join them after letting go of Shanam's hand with a good luck squeeze. I watched as he made his way up to the front and warmly greeted the men and women already seated on the stand. He looked confident and happy as he sat next to his friend, Matt, who was also speaking that day. They both wore black suits and red ties. That made me smile :)

"He is so wonderful. Thank you once again, Heavenly Father, for bringing him into my life. Please give him strength and guidance while he speaks." I prayed.

The meeting began and every time our eyes met, I smiled with happiness. He truly brought joy to my heart with just one glance :) Just as I expected, his talk was excellent. He spoke about how a person gains their own testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and used examples from his own life. He was not raised in the church but was converted and baptized at age 19. He shared the experience of when the Holy Ghost first bore witness to him that the church was true as he watched the prophet speak during General Conference. He said it was a pure and true feeling that he could not deny. He then bore his testimony of the reality of God and Jesus Christ with strength and conviction. I felt the truthfulness of his words in my own heart and gained a new love and admiration for him, one that grew from the fruits of the Spirit.

After the meeting, he introduced me to some of the members of his congregation and we continued on to our Sunday School class. The day at church was wonderful and I loved sitting by him and holding his hand through the various meetings. I couldn't have been more proud, once again, to be seen with this amazing man. We left church in good spirits and drove over to his parents house to spend the afternoon eating and relaxing.

Quick Thank You!

2012-02-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

This isn't part of the love story, but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has commented on the blog or on facebook or in person. I love reading your reactions and little tidbits of what you remember during that time. It really does give me motivation to take the time to write and keep going. This has been such a fun, creative outlet for me and I love re-feeling and remembering all the reasons why I love Shanam so much :) Please keep commenting whenever you feel like you want to and I hope those who are reading and haven't commented are enjoying it. I know it's a little cheesy (especially in the text messages :) but that's what I love about it. It's real and it's honest. And to all my single friends...I know you will find your own cheesy kind of love someday :) I hope by reading our story it brings you hope for the future, because love really is a wonderful gift. I'm reminded of that every time I sit down to write the next saga :) All it took was one brief moment for our lives to cross.

Text Message

2012-02-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

Friday, May 23, 2008

Text Message (10:00 pm)

Me: Hiya! Got off early! How was your day?

Him: It was good. How was yours? I'm off to the store to pick up a few last minute things for our dinner on Sunday. What are you up to on your Friday night?

Me: Was going to go to a party but it's an hour away so I decided not to go. I only drive that far for special people :)

Him: Well, that special person is pretty lucky :)

Me: I've got good news!

Him: What?!

Me: I got work off. I can come to Utah :)

Him: That's awesome! We're going to have fun :)

Me: I'm pretty excited! Thanks again for inviting me! I'm so glad it's all working out

Him: You're going skiing with me while we're out there, right?

Me: I don't think you'd want me to, but I guess I better learn to like it one of these days

Him: You can board if you want to

Me: We'll see

Him: Come on! Don't wimp out on me!

Me: I'm not wimping out! You're just on a whole other level than me! It's intimidating to be with someone so good

Him: I am nothing to be intimidated by

Me: I don't believe you, Mr. I-went-to-ski-racing-school-and-I-like-jumping-off-cliffs-for-fun

Him: Haha! Don't worry I'll stay with you most of the time ;)

Me: Ha and you want me to believe that! Sure thing :)

Him: I made something for you today

Me: Oh really? :) Is it a surprise?

Him: You think I'd tell you? It's nothing outlandish. Don't worry

Me: You're going to make me wait? No fair!

Him: And it may even deserve a kiss

Me: Well, you've already got a lot coming your way :)

How I Met Love, Yoga

2012-01-31T07:36:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, Day 18

My roommate Kim and I had moved the furniture and laid out our mats in preparation for yoga that morning. We followed a program that came on the television every day and found it a wonderful way to start the morning. It wasn't every day, though, that we had someone else joining us :) Shanam knocked on the door 5 minutes before it started.

"Just in time! Come on. We've got a mat all set up for you!" I said as I opened the door to let him in.

"Well, good morning to you, too!" he joked. "Hey, Kim! How are you? You're doing yoga with us? Great. Now I'll have too girls laughing at me the whole time!"

"I won't laugh too hard." Kim joked back. "You're free to laugh at me, too. I haven't been doing this for very long."

"Well, I'm sure you're much better than I am! I can't even touch my toes."

"This is going to be fun!" I said, lightly pushing him off balance as he stood on his mat.

I was impressed at what a good sport he was and that he was willing to even try yoga in the first place. As the program began, I watched out of the corner of my eye as he tried to follow the basic warm up positions. I couldn't help but smile at how cute he was :) We tried to take it seriously as the program progressed into some deeper poses, but it was just too funny to watch him try to balance and stretch at the same time. His body quivered and he would tip over to the side every time, catching himself with a loud thud as his foot hit the hard tile floor. He did try, though, through the laughter, but in the end we resorted to sitting and talking on the floor while pretending to stretch. Not the most productive yoga session, but definitely worth the ab workout provided by the laughter! :)

When the program ended, we headed to the kitchen and enjoyed a nice breakfast with Kim, then made our way to my bedroom where Jennlyn was still asleep. We quietly climbed onto my bed to cuddle and talk but I guess we were too loud because before we knew it, Jennlyn was awake.

"Hey, Shanam." she said sleepily. "I didn't know you were coming over this morning. I would have done my hair for you." We all laughed, remembering her previous morning "do."

"Hey, I wanna cuddle, too." she said.

With that, she grabbed her teddy bear and made her way over to my bed where she climbed on and proceeded to steamroll us.

"Haha! Jennlyn get off!" We laughed and I started tickling her so she would stop. Once I started that, she immediately jumped off the bed and jumped back to hers, still clutching her teddy bear. We all talked for a while, then she left and got ready for the day so we could chat by ourselves. It was lovely laying in each others arms, having no where we needed to be, having nothing we needed to do. We were content just to be in each others company.

"I brought all the stuff I needed to fix the flat tire on your bike, if you want me to do that today." he mentioned.

I was blown away that he had remembered me telling him about my flat tire a few days back and that he would take the initiative to not only fix it for me but to buy and bring all the stuff he needed to do it.

"Are you serious! That would be awesome!" I responded exuberantly. "How did I get so lucky to have a man like you around!" I was seriously impressed and I wanted to make sure he knew that :)

We spent the morning leisurely talking as we moved from one location of the house to the next, spending time by the pool, on the swing, walking hand in hand through the yard. Time seemed to stand still whenever we were together.

After fixing my bike, we decided to go to PF Changs for lunch. I loved going out to eat with him. We had such similar taste in food and loved sharing each others meals. We made sure not to get the same thing so that we could try both dishes and we loved to critique and comment on what we thought of it. The simple act of sharing our love of good food was so gratifying and unifying.

We were enjoying our chicken lettuce wraps, when Shanam nonchalantly threw out the invitation, "Why don't you come out to Utah with me?"

I almost choked. "Like, in two weeks?"

"Well, ya. Wouldn't you like to see your family?"

"Of course I would, but I can't afford that. Plus, how am I supposed to get a week off of work in such short notice?"

Shanam sat and looked at me for a second, then said, "If you can figure out how to get work off, I'll take care of your plane tickets."

His generous offer took me by surprise and I didn't know what to say.

"Between my dad and I, we've got lots of frequent flyer miles, so it would be no problem at all." He tried to assure me. "I would really love it if you could come."

I was still taken back by the invitation.

"Of course, if you feel like that's too much, you could always say no." He said, trying to guess what I was thinking and fill the silence.

Still trying to formulate my thoughts, I said."No, no. I do want to go. And I'm so grateful for the invitation. It just took me by surprise. That's all. Are you sure you'd be okay getting my plane tickets? I mean, I guess I could see if anyone would be able to trade shifts with me, but wow, ok. Let me think about this." I was still trying to wrap my brain around the idea.

"I've told my sister all about you and she would really like to meet you. And plus, you'd actually be there when I meet your parents." He said smiling.

I looked up at him and somehow, seeing that smile, made the whole situation not as serious as I was making it. I told him I would see what I could do at work and let him know as soon as I figured out a way to go. The idea of traveling with him made my heart beat just a little bit faster with excitement :)

Text Message

2012-01-31T07:26:00.000-08:00

Monday, May 19, 2008, Day 17

Text Message (10:00 am)

Me: You've definitely got to do yoga with me one of these days!

Him: Right. I'll end up tearing something or not be able to walk after

Me: Nah, we'll take it nice and easy ;)

Him: I don't know if I can resist your requests :) Tomorrow morning?

Me: Isn't Tuesday your busiest day?

Him: It is in the evening but I could stay until about four.

Me: Ok. If you insist :) Yoga starts at 8:30 am. That's pretty early for you!

Him: Yes it is but you have a funny way of getting me to do things :) I will see what kind of magic I can pull off today. You can't laugh too hard at me when my body won't go into those weird positions

Me: Oh yes I can!

Text Message

2012-01-31T07:09:00.000-08:00

Saturday, May 17, 2008, Day 15

Text Message (2:00 am)

Him: Sweet dreams. You're the best. Miss your kisses already :)

Me: Yours will definitely carry me through the night!

Him: Hopefully they carry you a bit longer than that. I don't think I'll be there tomorrow to give you some more

Me: Bummer! You leave me wanting more. What a dirty trick!

Him: Don't worry. There will be time to make up for it. Lots of time :)

Me: Well, I guess I'm it in for the long haul, then. Bring it on!

Him: Ha! You have no idea what you're in for ;)

Me: Now look who's being mischievous :) So does this mean I should change my status on facebook from single to in a relationship?

Him: I was wondering if you were going to do that. That's a pretty serious move, don't you think? I mean, it is facebook after all :)

Me: Hmmm. I know. I think I should give this some thought ;)

Text Message (10:00 am)

Him: You missed a good morning at the beach. Wish you were here

Me: You went to the beach! I hate living so far away! I'm sure you enjoyed it for me, though. I spent the morning uploading all the pics to facebook. Check it out when you get a chance!

Him: You didn't include the ones from last night did you?

Me: Sure did :) Don't worry. You look dead sexy in all of them ;)

Him: Ya right. I know better than that. So, we're connected of facebook now? Dangerous! :)

How I Met Love, Orlando Dance

2012-01-30T12:36:00.000-08:00

Friday, May 16, 2008, Day 14

Text Message (11:00 am)

Me: I'm looking forward to dancing with you tonight. Make sure to save me a slow dance ;)

Him: And you think I would leave one open for someone else?!

__________________________________________________________

"When is he going to get here?" Amy asked for the third time. We had been at the Orlando dance for over an hour and he still wasn't there yet. His Elders Quorum Secretary was getting sealed to his wife in the temple that night, so Shanam was going to come to the dance right after that was over. Amy had heard all about "Mr. Perfect", as she called him, but hadn't officially met him, yet. I couldn't wait for her to meet him and we kept looking over at the door, hoping to see him as we danced.

"Bethany, is that him?!" Amy suddenly shouted. I quickly looked over and saw his figure in the doorway. My body immediately reacted and I looked away, not sure if he had seen me yet.

"That's him!" I said, smiling, feeling suddenly nervous.

"Well, let's go say 'Hi!'" she said.

"Wait, wait! Let's just wait until he comes over here." My nerves were too jumpy and I needed a moment to calm down.

"Why is this happening?! Why won't my body just relax! How can he still have this effect over me?!"

"Hey, you!" said a low, deep voice behind me. As soon as I heard him and felt his hands on my shoulders, my body instantly melted.

I managed to turn around and gave him a big hug saying, "It's about time you showed up! I could barely stand to wait much longer!"

Turning towards Amy, I introduced them to each other, then placed my hand in his and led him towards our group of friends. After more introductions, we had fun dancing with everyone and I had fun receiving looks of approval as different friends caught my eye. He was true to his word and left no slow songs open for anyone else. We danced every song together and rarely left each other's side for more than a minute :)

After the dance was over, we drove back to my house and settled in on the couch, wrapped in each other's arms.

"Did I tell you how gorgeous you looked tonight?" he said.

"Yes, only about 50 times." I said, not being able to contain my enjoyment. "Did I tell you how much fun I had with you tonight?"

"Yes, only about 50 times." he mimicked back.

"We really do need to start taking salsa lessons, though." I laughed. "Then we could cross another thing off our list and actually not look like complete dorks on the dance floor!"

"I think I pull it off quite nicely, thank you very much!" he joked.

"You're right. Like you say, it's all in the facial expressions, and you've got those down." I giggled out loud, remembering his "salsa" poses.

We talked late into the night, once again not wanting to part. Living so far apart from each other was hard, but it also made our time together that much more meaningful. We used every moment to find out more about each other and because of that, I felt like I had known him for a lot longer than two weeks. I felt so comfortable with him. It just felt right.

It was getting late, but before I could mention anything about Shanam heading home, he drew me in closer and tilted my head up towards his. He looked into my eyes...and I knew.

I knew he loved me.

And I knew I loved him.

Our lips met.

Our hearts connected.

I felt his love encompass my whole being.

It wasn't a kiss of passion.

It was a kiss of true love.

How I Met Love, Text Message

2012-01-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

Text Message (1:30 pm)

Him: Thanks for a great time. You are the best! I think I have a perma smile!

Me: I can't shake this feeling! I don't know what sort of powers you possess! All I know is you're good. Real good!

Him: Ha! My plan is working!

Me: Lol! I like a man who knows what he wants and goes after it :)

Him: I couldn't loose any time since I wasn't the only one going after you, but I think I'm getting safer. :)

Me: I just got off the phone with my mom and my best friend, so I think that's a pretty good sign you're headed to the "safe zone"

Him: Good news...but never safe. Have to always be worthy of it!

Me: It's statements like that that make me like you even more!

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 4

2012-01-27T07:33:00.000-08:00

Thursday, May 15, 2008, Day 13

I woke up the next day after everyone else, and could hear Shanam's voice down in the kitchen. I stood staring at myself in the bathroom mirror preparing for what I was going to say to his parents.

"I'm sorry I'm such an idiot! Normally, I know what's coming out of my mouth, but really, it was all your son's fault. He did it to me!"

I knew that wouldn't quite work, so all I could do was laugh, and hope for the best! As I made my way down the stairs, I admired the beautiful dark wood floors and gorgeous artwork hung on the walls. The house had a very classy, formal feel to it, but it was also inviting and homey at the same time. I liked it. A lot. :)

"Good morning!" I said cheerfully, as I entered the kitchen. Shanam's mother was getting dishes out of the cupboard, his father was trying to find the hand mixer, and Shanam was cracking an egg into a huge bowl on the counter. They all stopped and turned, immediately greeting me with warm good mornings.

"How did you sleep?" asked his mother.

"Do you like waffles?" his father asked.

I laughed and said, "I slept very well, thank you. And yes, I love waffles! Can I help with anything?"

Shanam responded, "No, I think we've got it. Just make yourself comfortable on the bar stool."

He finished with the egg and came over to pull the stool out for me. Only, when he got near, he drew me into a hug and said, "I missed not waking up next to you. You spoiled me yesterday."

I giggled and said, "Who spoiled who?" He let go with a smile and made sure I was situated before going back to his work in progress. It impressed me that he was so open in front of his family. It was, after all, a rather long "good morning" embrace.

"You have such a beautiful home!" I said.

"Well, thank you!" his mother responded. "We're so glad you could come stay with us."

"Yes, thank you! It was very nice of you to let me come!" I paused before saying, "I do apologize for last night, though. I really wasn't myself..."

"Oh, don't worry about it!" she quickly assured me. "You two had a very long day! Didn't you just love Ophelia's?" Not another word was mentioned about our first introduction.

I happily expressed how much I enjoyed dinner and how I could see why that was her favorite restaurant. Shanam and I then recounted our whole day for them, from sun-up to sun-down. As we talked, I watched in amazement as Shanam made the waffle batter using no instructions! The waffles turned out incredible, of course, and I thought,

"When is it going to stop? When will he stop exceeding my expectations and show me some sort of flaw! Even his parents are amazing!"

Unfortunately, we couldn't stay for very long. I had to be back at work at 1 o'clock and we had a two hour drive ahead of us. After getting all my stuff together, we all stood out front by the car saying our goodbyes.

"You'll definitely have to come back for dinner, sometime!" Shanam's mother said, giving me a hug.

His dad gave me a hug next and said, "We can't promise anything like Ophelia's, though."

Laughing, I said, "Thank you so much! I hope I do come back!"

"Drive safely!" they both shouted as we got in the car and drove away.

I looked over at Shanam and said, "You have such wonderful parents! I'm so glad I got to meet them. Thank you."

"I think they like you." he smiled at me.

"Well, I hope so, 'cuz I really like them!" I said.

When we pulled onto the highway, we somehow got on the subject of everything we wanted to do or see in life. It started out as individual dreams, but the more we shared, the more we found ourselves exclaiming things like:

"No way!"

"Me, too!"

"I've always wanted to do that!"

I scrounged around, looking for paper to write on and finally found some bank deposit envelopes.

"Alright. Let's write down everything we want to do!" I said. "Starting with one we can already cross off. #1) Watch the sunrise and sunset on the same day."

Our list grew to 20, to 50, to 75 things, until we finally reached 100 things we wanted to do together! We finished just as we were pulling off the highway in Orlando and were amazed at how fast the time had passed! We had shared dreams and goals that we had never shared with anyone else before. Neither one of us took that lightly while we came up with our list. No matter how outrageous the dream was, it was listed.

We arrived at my house and he walked me to my door, carrying my overnight bag. We said a long goodbye, feeling sad to part, but comforted knowing that we would see each other the next day at the Orlando dance. I closed the front door behind me and literally felt a huge shiver of excitement run through my whole body. None of my five roommates were home, but I had to tell someone about my date! I realized that I hadn't told my parents about Shanam at all! My family lived in Utah and I usually called them about every other Sunday, but I knew this couldn't wait! I jumped onto my bed, laid down, and dialed my home phone, hoping my mom was there.

"Hello?" my mom answered.

"Mom!! Hi!! How are you!!"

"I'm doing great, Beth." she said laughing. "How are you? You sound just a little excited!"

"Mom, I have to tell you about this guy I met!" I began. I started at the very beginning and told her everything.

"He's just so amazing! I don't think I've ever felt like this before! For the first time, I feel like I have to do everything I can to keep him. Before, I have always just let things play out to see what would happen, but this time...I don't think I could bare to loose him!"

"Well, I've sure never heard you talk about a guy like this before, so he must be special!" my mother replied. Then she paused, "Is he from another country?"

I burst out laughing, remembering that I never explained his name.

"No, mom. He's American, born and raised. His name is Sanskrit and means 'peace.'"

"Oh, okay. The picture I was envisioning of him just changed dramatically." She laughed. "Well, you'll have to tell me how it goes!"

I paused before I said, "You can meet him if you want! He'll actually be in Utah with his parents in a few weeks for a short trip."

"Wow, you really are serious about this guy! I'll talk to your father and maybe we'll have them over for dinner one night."

After I got off the phone with her, I had to call my best friend, Bre, and fill her in. I went through the exact same story, but this time I remembered to explain his name in the beginning. Unfortunately, I was so wrapped up in Shanam that I completely forgot it was her birthday! It wasn't until after I had hung up, that I realized what I had done! I quickly called her back and apologized profusely, but she just laughed, saying that she would have done the same thing, too, if she had met someone like Shanam. :)

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 3

2012-01-25T02:05:00.000-08:00

Our dinner reservation was coming up so we ran back to our car, feeling light and giddy. It only took a few minutes to arrive at the restaurant and when we saw how crowded the parking lot was, we were glad we had made reservations! We pulled up to the valet and two men dressed in sports coats opened each of our doors. One helped me out, taking my hand, then opened the door to the restaurant for me. I waited for Shanam and we entered the foyer together.

My immediate reaction was amazement! The house had been dramatically renovated and looked like a classy restaurant that you would find in New York City. But what amazed me the most, was the the entire back wall was made out of glass! The property sat right on the bay and I could see that there were tables all along the open back porch and wooden dock. There was even a small boat tied up right out back that I later learned was from a neighboring house. A couple had driven a boat instead of a car to dinner!

"Did you get us a table by the water? Oh, I hope so! Look how beautiful it is out there." I said, pointing, hugging his arm. Shanam just turned to me and smiled. Outside, the day was turning to dusk and the moon was slightly peaking through the trees in the distance. The dark blue water was calm and serene and birds from the island sanctuary close by provided the music.

Our hostess walked us toward the back windows, out the back doors and to our own small table on the dock. I literally felt like I was in a dream! I sat down and looked around me, trying to take it all in, but my eyes wouldn't focus. The small twinkle lights covering the trees looked like tiny balls of light and everything had a soft hue around it, even Shanam. I had no words to describe what I was feeling. All I knew was that I didn't want to wake up!

Our waiters brought out warm, fresh bread and a whole bulb of roasted garlic. I could have stopped right there and been completely content, but when my entree of Braised Lamb with button mushrooms, white truffle essence, roma tomatoes, rosemary, and lobster studded potatoes came out, I knew I was in heaven! I had no idea what it had cost, because there were no prices on the menu, but I would have paid anything for just one bite of that meal! I couldn't say much as we ate because I felt so overwhelmed! It was as if my body had overdosed on happiness and I was in a complete daze.

The daze followed me all the way to Shanam's parents house, and I tried to get myself under control so I could present myself properly, but it was no use. The culmination of everything that had happened that day left me comatose! I hoped they were forgiving because I knew the first impression was going to be a little rough. All I remember is saying hello and getting a goodnight kiss from Shanam after he showed me to my room. We must have had some sort of conversation, but I had no recollection of what was said, or how long it lasted!

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 2

2012-01-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

When we both woke up at about 2 o'clock, we were refreshed and ready for the next adventure! We climbed back in the car and stopped for a bite to eat before we made our way over to the west coast. Orlando is almost directly in the center of the state, so it takes about an hour to an hour and a half to get to either coast. Because of that, we had decided that we would stay in Sarasota at his parents house, instead of driving me back home that night. So, not only was I spending almost two days with Shanam, I would be meeting his parents for the first time.

"You're sure your parents are okay with letting me stay there?"

"Of course!" he assured me. "They are more than happy. They wanted us to come for dinner, but I told them I was already taking you to Ophelia's. Which reminds me, we need to stop in to make reservations."

We arrived in Sarasota at about 6:00, so we didn't have quite enough time to eat before the sunset. I waited in the car while Shanam ran into the restaurant to make reservations. From the outside, Ophelia's looked like a regular one story house with only a small paved area in place of a yard. It was even located in a residential neighborhood with palm trees and huge, mature banyan trees that draped over the street. I wondered where everyone parked and then noticed that there was only valet parking offered.

"What kind of restaurant is this?" I almost said out loud to myself. But, I fully trusted Shanam's judgement and he had told me that this was his mother's favorite restaurant, so I would just have to wait and see.

Once he got back in the car, he suggested that we drive around the neighborhood a little to look at all the huge houses. Yet again, I was impressed that he would even have the desire to do that! This was a common activity that my parents did whenever they went to visit a new town, so I was one hundred percent on board! As we explored tiny streets and went up long driveways we weren't supposed to, we pointed out everything we liked or disliked. We shared our dream house fantasies and were surprised by how similar our dreams were!

"I would love to have at least two homes!" Shanam shared. "One in New England and the other, a large cabin in the mountains!"

"Oh, yes! And I would put a third house in the south of France!" I added.

Shanam agreed enthusiastically, "Definitely!!"

We could have gallivanted around those neighborhoods all night, but the sun was getting closer and closer to the horizon, so we headed to the beach just down the street. We rounded the corner into the parking lot and sure enough, the white sand was absolutely gorgeous, just like he had said! I couldn't wait to get out and feel it.

"Come on! Let's go!" I said, hopping out of the car before Shanam even had a chance to turn off the ignition. I went around to his door and helped him get out of the car, pulling on his arm while jumping up and down, like a child.

"Hold on, hold on," he said laughing.

The minute I stepped barefoot into the sand, I felt the fine powder seep between my toes and I squealed out in delight. We walked down the beach hand in hand, watching children play and parents relaxing, and I squeezed his hand tighter, once again feeling a wave of gratitude for just being able to be with him. A woman was kind enough to take a picture of us right before the sunset. I wanted to make sure I had something to prove that this day had actually happened. I also collected a tiny cup full of sand from each beach for the same reason. :)

We stood in each other's arms watching the sky as it turned from peach to sultry orange and said goodbye to the same sun that had begun our memorable day. We waited until the top arch of the sun slowly slid out of sight before we drew our eyes from the sky and looked at one another. Our faces were almost touching as we looked into each other's eyes. I knew he wanted to kiss me, just like I knew he wanted to kiss me a hundred times before, but I was still too scared to let him. I was still too scared to let him into my heart. I looked away, breaking the gaze and placed my head on his chest instead. My heart was racing almost as fast as his was. He slowly took my hand and turned to lead us back to the car when suddenly a loud voice inside my head said, "Just do it!!"

I couldn't deny the prompting, so I pulled back on his hand and turned him towards me. I looked up at him with eager anticipation and brought my lips closer to his. He bent down and met my lips with a sweet, tender kiss that intensified into a deeper, more passionate connection. My whole body rejoiced! When we pulled apart, I was so happy that all I could do was laugh! He looked at me with a puzzled expression, so I quickly had to explain to Shanam that I was laughing because he made me so happy and not for any other reason :)

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 1

2012-01-23T17:44:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, May, 14, 2008, Day 12

"So, when's the last time you were at Cocoa Beach?" I asked. It was 5 o'clock in the morning and we were headed to the closest east coast beach to begin our date with a sunrise. Shanam had spent the night at Chuck's house and had gotten up at 4 that morning to prepare for our day. When he arrived at my doorstep, he was carrying a cooler full of fresh fruit and water bottles. (Now, a man who gets up that early to be with you and comes prepared without even being asked, is a man worth holding on to!)

"Maybe two years ago, or so. We usually head to the west coast since it's closer. I can't wait to show you Siesta Key Beach! It has the most beautiful white sand you have ever seen! It's so fine that it feels like you're walking in baby powder!"

"Wow! I can't wait!" I said, thinking about how lucky I was to be spending the whole day with him.

We arrived at Cocoa Beach about 10 minutes before the sun was scheduled to rise, so once we found the perfect spot, we quickly spread a blanket out on the sand. I sat down in front of him and made myself comfortable, leaning back against his strong chest. He wrapped the other blanket tight around us. Even though there were a few people scattered on the beach, as we sat huddled inside each others warmth, it felt like the sun was about to rise just for us.

We watched reverently as the top arch of the sun slowly peaked over the clouds. The sky brightened and the ocean's surface gleamed in the orange light. The sound of the rhythmic waves filled the silence and I felt my body sink deeper into the arms of the man behind me. Whatever else happened, I knew that this moment would be a moment I would always remember.

After a while, I felt my eyes getting heavier and I remembered it was still 6:30 in the morning, so I suggested we lay back and take a little nap. I laid my head on his chest and listened to his heart beat as my body relaxed completely and drifted off to sleep.

When I awoke about half an hour later, it took me a second to gage where I was. I smiled as the morning's memories gently made their way back into my remembrance. Shanam was still asleep next to me, so I studied his handsome face as he breathed deeply in and out.

"What an amazing man! How is he not married, yet? How did I get so lucky?"

As I was pondering those thoughts, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude swept over me. I prayed in my heart, Heavenly Father, thank you so much for letting this man enter my life. I don't know what lies ahead, but I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be with him now. Please guide my heart and help me know if this is a man I could spend eternity with.

I knew it was a little early to be thinking about marriage, but I needed help. The more time I spent with him, the more I liked him, so I didn't want to be headed down that path if God knew something I didn't.

Shanam started to stir and opened his eyes to look up at me.

"Good morning, beautiful." he said, smiling. I basked in those words and could have kissed him right there,but I decided to wait.

"Good morning." I said, smiling back. "Should we get breakfast ready? I'm starving!"

After our lovely breakfast of grapes and strawberries, we changed into our running shoes and went for a short jog along the beach. The morning air was moist and refreshing and we enjoyed bumping into each other as we ran to get out of the oncoming waves. Shanam switched off between running circles around me and running backwards in front of me, teasing that I wasn't going fast enough. I just laughed at him and told him how much I admired his athletic ability. :)

On our way back to our blanket we were thrilled to see sail boats pushing off into the water! A race had just begun and we could hear the men on the boats shouting orders as they tried to get the sails pointed in the right direction. It was so much fun to be right where all the action was! Shanam struck up a conversation with a couple walking next to us and I was again impressed by his hidden talents. He casually spoke and laughed with them as if they were old friends, thinking nothing of it! I'm not someone that talks to strangers very often, so the fact that he did it so easily, completely blew me away.

After we had said goodbye to the nice couple, who were celebrating their 20th anniversary vacationing at the beach, we packed up our belongings and headed back to Orlando. I decided to take a shower at my house and found Shanam asleep on my bed when I had finished getting ready. I couldn't bare to wake the poor guy up so I decided to join him and gladly welcomed the second nap of the day.

How I Met Love, Breakfast Crepes

2012-01-20T07:05:00.000-08:00

Saturday, May 10, 2008, Day 9

"So, why is it that you like pecans so much, again?" I asked Shanam, as he rinsed the strawberries he had brought.

"I don't know, really. There's just something about pecan pancakes with real maple syrup on top."

"Well, I hope you like these crepes. I haven't made them since I was in France." I was concentrating on getting all the lumps out of the batter and it was taking more effort than usual. "You should taste the crepes in Paris! Oh, they are so amazing!"

"Well, maybe one of these days, I'll hire you as my tour guide and you can show me everything you love about Paris." he said, grinning.

Laughing, I said, "It's a deal!"

Shanam turned around and sauntered over to where I was, humming a Parisian tune and slid his arms around my waist. I continued to beat the batter and giggled. That only encouraged him more, so he rocked his hips back and forth, humming into my ear. My giggling must have awakened my roommate, because at that moment, Jennlyn slowly walked into the kitchen, half asleep.

Rubbing her eyes she said, "Good morning, you two."

We both turned around and saw her standing against the wall, obviously using it as a support to keep her up. We burst out laughing! First, because she had caught us in the kitchen dancing and second, because her hair was standing straight up, sticking out in all different directions.

"I'm sorry, Jennlyn. Did we wake you up?" I apologized, trying to hold back my laughter. "This is Shanam, by the way."

She looked at Shanam and did her best to give him a smile. She was still waking up.

Shanam said, "Good morning," and after a slight pause, "nice hair!" Jennlyn joined in the round of laughter that began again and touched her hair to see just how tall it was that morning.

We finished preparing the crepes as Jennlyn sat down at the table and chatted with us. Shanam turned out to be quite the chef as he took over in the kitchen, flipping the crepes up and into the air, catching them perfectly each time. I was thoroughly impressed and wondered what other talents he hadn't shared with me yet. :)

We piled our crepes high with strawberries, pecans, and homemade whipped cream, that he had also "whipped up" himself. Our breakfast was delicious and gladly shared with Jennlyn as we all sat at the kitchen table discussing places we wanted to visit in Florida. Shanam had brought me beautiful pink-tipped roses that morning and I had displayed them in the center of the table in a bright blue glass vase.

"Do you know what I've always wanted to do?" I said, touching one of the rose petals, "I've always wanted to see the sunrise on the east coast and the sunset on the west coast, both in the same day. Florida's the only place you can do that."

"You know, I've always wanted to do that, too." Shanam said.

"You guys should definitely do it, then." suggested Jennlyn.

Shanam smiled at me, "Well, it looks like we just found our next date idea."

How I Met Love, Text Message

2012-01-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

Thursday, May 8, 2008, Day 7

Text Message (8:00 am)

Him: Good morning if you're up! Have a great day!

Me: Good morning prince charming

Him: Lol. And which princess are you this morning?

Me: Who's your favorite?

Him: Isn't Cinderella the most beautiful?

Me: I guess only to those attracted to blond hair and big blue eyes. :)

Him: Well that would make me a true sucker then. What are you doing for lunch Saturday before work?

Me: Wow! Two dates in the same week! You really don't want to leave time for anyone else, do you? That is, assuming you were planning on asking me out :) How about I make you breakfast? Crepes perhaps?

Him: Of course I don't want to leave room, you kidding! And your idea sounds perfect! Love it. Then I have a bit more time with you before you have to go to work

Me: I'm glad you like the idea. Breakfast crepes it is! I won't forget to pick up some pecans :)

How I Met Love, Seasons 52, Part 2

2012-01-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

*To start at the beginning click here.*

He was leaning back comfortably in his chair, smiling, watching my enjoyment.

"What do you think?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"It's incredible! It's just so beautiful!"

"Just wait until you try the food! Why don't you go ahead and look at the menu and I'll be right back. I'm going to go wash up."

I opened the menu and started skimming through all the selections. I didn't know how I was ever going to choose! Everything looked delicious! When Shanam returned I expressed my dilemma.

"How am I supposed to decide?! Look at this amazing chicken and roasted garlic flatbread. And this pear and pine nut spinach salad. What a great combination! I have never seen that before!" I paused to take a breath, then continued, "As far as the entrees go, I think I've narrowed it down to two. Either the grilled jumbo sea scallops or the crab-stuffed shrimp. What would you recommend?"

When I looked up from the menu, Shanam's huge grin said it all.

"I'm sorry!" I laughed, "I really love good food!"

"No need to apologize. I'm glad you love food. It's something I love, too." he said, not able to stop smiling.

When the waitress came by to take our order, Shanam did something I never would have expected. Without even opening his menu to choose what he wanted, he ordered every single thing I had pointed out! When the waitress left, I just stared at him dumbfounded.

"We'll share. This way you get to try everything," he stated. At that very moment, Shanam rose above any other guy I had ever dated. He became my hero.

All throughout dinner, our relaxed discussion traveled in and out of various topics, weaving a pattern of common threads; interests and passions we shared, similar experiences and lessons we had learned, even down to the same type of seasoning our family used growing up (which is "Spike"--don't ask me how that came up!). Before we knew it, two hours had gone by and our waitress was back, asking what we wanted for dessert. Part of our discussion earlier covered how we felt about desserts and food that used coffee or alcohol as ingredients, so when she offered a dessert shot of tiramasu as one of our choices, we both smiled at each other and simultaneously said, "Tiramasu, please."

By the time we finished, the sun had long past set, but the night air was cool and inviting.

"What would you like to do now?" Shanam asked, as we walked back to the car.

"Wouldn't it be great if we could go on a boat out on the lake?" I answered dreamily.

"That's exactly what I was thinking! The weather is perfect, but where are we going to find a boat?"

"I have an idea." I smiled mischievously. "There's a boat that takes guests from the Wilderness Lodge to the Magic Kingdom. I bet we could hitch a ride. Want to try it?"

He agreed that was a great idea, so we jumped back into the car and took off towards Disney World. We had no problem getting into the resort and once we found the dock, we ran to jump on a boat that was just about to leave. He sat down first, with his arm extended towards me on the back of the seat and I gladly slid right in beside him. The night was indeed perfect for boating and we enjoyed being on the water, watching as the lights of Magic Kingdom became brighter and brighter as we got closer. We got off and decided to hop on the monorail to go explore the different resorts it stopped at. He hadn't been to Disney World in a while, so I had fun being tour guide on my home turf. Our final stop was the Polynesian Resort where I led him through the amazing lobby and out the back doors. I had a specific place in mind that I knew he would love.

The walkways, lined with tiki torches, curved and twisted through large tropical plants. Calming Hawaiian music floated through the trees and we felt as though we had been transported to an exotic island. The atmosphere was enchanting and as we walked side by side, it felt completely natural when Shanam gently reached over and took my hand in his.

We had arrived at the beach I wanted to show him, where hammocks awaited us. We chose one secluded from the rest and nestled into each other, laying in each other's arms. We talked about past relationships, what our dating standards and limits were, what we looked for in the opposite sex, and most importantly, what we enjoyed about each other. We laid in that hammock not caring what time it was, not worrying about work the next day, not wanting to end that magical night.

Text Message (2:00 am)

Me: Thank you for a perfect date! I had a fabulous time. You are amazing and definitely know how to make a girl feel special. Drive home safely!

Him: Thank you so much for making the night wonderful. I have to say it was the best ever! This drive would be much better if you were with me.

How I Met Love, Seasons 52, Part 1

2012-01-18T07:12:00.000-08:00

*To start at the beginning click here.*

Wednesday, May 7, 2008, Day 6

"Jennlyn, which necklace should I wear?" I shouted from the bathroom. It was date night and I wanted to make sure I looked good. Jennlyn came into the bathroom and started playing with my curly hair.

"I think the one you have on looks great. And your hair! I wish I had hair like this!" she said, continuing to fluff the curls from the bottom. Just then, the doorbell rang. I looked at Jennlyn with huge, wide eyes, not able to hide my excitement.

"Well, go get it!" she laughed...referring to the door. :)

It felt like I was gliding on air as I hurried out the bathroom. I got to the front door and saw his dark figure through the frosted glass. My adrenaline was in full gear, so at that point I had to tell myself to exhale slowly. When I was ready, I pulled open the door, prepared for whatever the night had in store.

"Hi!" he said simply when he saw me.

"Hi!" I smiled back.

"You look amazing! I didn't know you had curly hair!"

"Well, thank you! It's au naturel." I said with my best french accent. "Do you want to come in while I grab my purse?"

When he agreed, I opened the door wider, to allow more space. He walked by me and I could smell the sweet scent of his cologne, immediately bringing me back to our last date. I scurried around, making sure I had everything I needed and finally presented myself as being ready. He had been making conversation with my roommate, Amy, and her boyfriend, Chuck, while he waited. As I followed him out the door, I turned around to wave goodbye and they both gave me a thumbs-up sign. I had to laugh and appreciate what great friends I had. :)

"My car's in the shop tonight so I had to borrow my dad's." he said in an overly apologetic tone. We approached the car and once again, it was a gorgeous, silver BMW. Only this car was an M5, stick-shift, fully-loaded beauty. He reached for the handle to open the door for me.

"I'm pretty bummed." he said sarcastically.

"Yeah, me too!" I played along.

I slid onto the black leather seat and felt completely encircled in luxury. I could definitely get used to this! I watched as Shanam made his way around the car and into the driver's seat.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked.

I looked directly into his eyes and said, "Bring it on!"

As soon as we turned onto the main road, he showed me what the car was made of. He accelerated so fast that my head pushed back against the head rest as if we were riding a rollercoaster! I admired how beautifully he handled the car and laughed with pure enjoyment. Despite the 0-60 rush, I felt completely relaxed as we easily transitioned into conversation and picked up where we had left off.

He chose to take me to one of his favorite restaurants called Seasons 52. This restaurant prides itself on having a seasonal menu, meaning the menu changes with every season, using only the freshest ingredients available. When we arrived, there was a 45 minute wait so we chose to sit outside on the patio surrounded by lush green plants and a water fountain.

We found two chairs facing each other, but they were obviously too far apart because soon into our conversation, Shanam brought his chair up to the point where our knees were almost touching. I smiled in approval, inviting his show of interest and undivided attention.

Our names were called and we followed our hostess through the piano bar and main dining area out to the rear balcony. My whole body rang with happiness as my eyes beheld our breathtaking view. There, before us, was a brilliant blue lake. Colors of pink and orange lit up the sky as the sun slowly set beyond the horizon. My heart could not have been happier. Tiny paper lanterns were strung along the ceiling, candles adorned each table, and the wicker tables and chairs set the mood completely as I let myself sink into the soft, flowered seat cushions. As I gazed across the table at the man I was with, I knew there was no where else in the world I would rather be.

How I Met Love, Text Message

2012-01-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Text Message (9:00 am)

Me: It was nice to wake up with good memories, thanks again for last night :) Have a great day!

Him: Agreed! I had a lot of fun. Careful, it sounds kinda like you're asking for that second date :)

Me: Not at all :) Just being honest. It is the best policy after all, especially when it could score me another date with you :)

Him: Lol! It just did! You make me laugh. At least I don't have to ask too hard :)

Me: Lol! We'll see about that

Him: You challenging me? :)

_______________________________________________

After a welcome phone call that evening, I made sure it wasn't too easy to set up another date. My work schedule did make it a little complicated, but we finally settled on having dinner Wednesday night. He called or texted each day and with every contact my desire to see him grew.

How I Met Love, Ice Cream, Part 2

2012-01-17T07:53:00.000-08:00

*To start at the beginning click here.*

We pulled apart and Shanam immediately turned towards the shops.

"Where to?" he asked, excitedly.

"Ghiradelli's is just right here, we could try that."

"Sounds great!" he said, already leading the way though the parked cars. His huge strides matched his enthusiasm and I giggled as I stepped quickly every few feet, so I wouldn't get left behind.

"Does he always walk this fast? Or is he just nervous?"

I tried to suppress my giggles but he noticed and turned towards me, smiling, "What? What's so funny?"

Looking up at him, I managed to say, "I can barely keep up!!"

We both just laughed and he apologized, blaming it on the fact that he was really excited to get some ice cream. I would later find out how true that really was :)

Ghiradellis turned out to be closed due to some construction, so we started our long journey to the other side of Downtown Disney where there was a Haagen-Daaz ice cream shop. As we weaved through the crowds, I realized that I enjoyed being seen with him. I felt a sense of pride that I had never felt with anyone else before. I liked that and it made me stand up just a little bit taller :)

We arrived at the ice cream counter and I debated over what flavor I wanted. Shanam seemed to have no trouble all.

"Yes! They have my favorite!" he nearly shouted, "Swiss Almond Vanilla!"

I chuckled at how easily pleased he was and decided on mint chocolate chip with warm, gooey fudge drizzled on top. At the register, I pulled out my Disney ID card so we could get an employee discount.

"That'll be $3.60 total, please." said the cashier.

Shanam was impressed and he turned to me saying, "Wow! I should have you along more often! Where else do you get discounts?"

"Lots of restaurants all over Orlando."

"Is that a hint?" he teased. "Are you asking for a second date?"

I just smiled back, waving my ID card at him.

We chose to sit outside along the river front, since it was a beautiful night and there wasn't as much noise. The lights from the resort across the lake shone brightly off the water's surface and a slight breeze stirred the leaves on the trees above us. We sat down on a small wooden bench and enjoyed our view while we savored each bite of ice cream.

"See that resort across the water?" I asked. "That's one of the resorts I work at. It's called Saratoga Springs."

Our conversation flowed easily as we shared the details of our lives. I enjoyed listening as he told me about where he grew up--how he had traveled and lived all over the United States, not really being able to call one distinct place "home." As a child, his father was in medical school, transferring from one school to another and when Shanam got older he attended private schools along the east coast. One of them being an athletic school where he specialized in downhill ski racing! We also talked about his current job and where he wanted to be in 5-10 years. I admired his ambition and his clear perspective on life. He sounded like he had a good grasp on reality and was responsible enough to take ownership of his decisions. Two very important things I always looked for.

While we were talking he kept interjecting, "I'm sorry, I usually don't talk this much! I want to find out more about you!"

To which I would respond, "Don't worry about it! I'm thoroughly enjoying getting to know you." And I would ask another question. My purpose that night was to listen. I wanted to find out if he was half as good as he looked. :)

"Hey, look over there! Is that a gator in the water?" he asked, pointing to a dark spot not too far from where we sat.

"No way!" I quickly leaned forward to get a better look.

"I really think it is!!" he exclaimed.

As I squinted, I finally came to the conclusion that it was just a duck, and started to lean back against the bench. Only...it wasn't the bench that I felt...it was his arm :) I was definitely okay with that and snuggled in closer.

"Smooth. Very smooth."

How I Met Love, Ice Cream, Part 1

2012-01-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

*To start at the beginning click here.*

Saturday, May 3, 2008, Day 2

"Oh no!! I left my phone at home!" I helplessly exclaimed as I put my purse in my work locker. I had to endure my entire shift without knowing if he had called! As Front Desk Concierge, I tried to concentrate on the concerns of the resort guests, but my thoughts kept slipping back to Shanam.

"What if he calls and thinks I'm ignoring him because I don't call him back? Or worse, what if he doesn't even call!"

As soon as 11 o'clock hit, I was out the door and in my car. I had to get home quickly so I could finally get answers to the questions that had been pounding in my head all day long! Arriving home, I ran to my room and prayed as I picked up my phone. Had he

called?!...Yes!!! Shanam had sent two text messages and had just barely called. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I clutched the phone to my chest, able to finally release my pent up anxiety. I decided I needed to chill out a bit before I spoke to him, so I focused on changing my clothes and reapplying a little make-up. I then sat down on my bed, took a deep breath and pressed the call back button.

"Hello?" answered the low, deep voice.

"Hi! It's Bethany. How are you?"

"I'm great! Are you still up for ice cream or are you too tired?" He didn't hesitate to get right to the point.

"I think I can stay up a little longer," I said, smiling. "How are you feeling? You're the one who has a two hour drive home."

"Oh, I'll be just fine. I'm a night owl. So, where should we go? Do you know of any place that's open this late?"

"Yeah, Downtown Disney has several ice cream shops. I think they close at 1 on Saturdays."

"Great! Do you want me to come pick you up?"

I didn't want him to know where I lived, just yet, so I said, "No, thank you. I'll just meet you there. It's only a few minutes from my house. Do you know how to get there?"

"The streets around Disney World are crazy, so I would love some help!"

I carefully explained how to get from where he was to Downtown Disney, but instead of saying goodbye when I finished, we stayed on the phone talking and laughing, as if our date had already begun. By that time, I had already climbed back into my car and was driving to meet him. During our conversation, I asked him a question that had intrigued me from when we had met the night before.

"So, Shanam, what does your name mean, exactly? What's the story behind it?"

"Well, to give you the short version, it means 'peace' in Sanskrit. That's the oldest written language. My mom really liked it. What about your name?"

"It's definitely not as fancy as yours but my mom liked it, too. She chose Bethany because that was the town where all of Jesus' friends lived."

The conversation continued until both cars pulled into the parking lot. I got there a little before he did, so I was able to see him drive right by me into the next space. He was behind the wheel of a gorgeous Beemer, silver with black interior.

"Maybe I should have let him pick me up!" I thought.

He stepped out of the car, still holding the phone up to his ear as he said hello for a second time. As he put his phone into his pocket and made his way over to my car, I couldn't help but admire his nice physique. He stood about six foot two with broad shoulders and a narrow, trim waist. That night, he was wearing a black dress shirt with faint white pin-stripes. He had again rolled up the sleeves, and had on dark jeans with European square-toed dress shoes. He looked fabulous!

"Your directions were perfect. They led me right to you!" he said as he wrapped his arms around me in a welcoming embrace.

"Well, I'm glad you finally found me," I said, breathing in his sweet cologne, enjoying the double meaning of what I had just said.

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 3

2012-01-15T01:17:00.000-08:00

*To start at the beginning click here.*

There was now a country song playing and everyone was filling in the space around us.

"Do you want to come dance over here and meet my friends?" he asked.

"Sure."

He lead me to the corner where a group of 10 or 15 people were dancing and laughing. We danced with them for a little while, stealing glances at each other whenever we could. Each time our eyes met, it felt like every nerve in my body was tingling. No contact was necessary! One of his friends yelled something into his ear and Shanam turned to me to relay the message.

"We're all headed out to eat now, but I'm going to be in Orlando tomorrow night. Would you like to get dessert somewhere?"

My first thought was, "Is he asking me out? Could this gorgeous man actually want to see me again?!"

"I'd love to, but I have to work late." I sadly informed him.

"Well, we could get together when you get off. What time do you work until?"

"I don't get off until 11," I said, shrugging my shoulders.

"That's okay. I'll give you a call tomorrow night and we'll see if you feel up for some ice cream." There was no way I could refuse that proposal (and there was no way I would want to), so I agreed. He brought out his cell phone from his back pocket and I slowly rocked back and forth on my heels, peering over the phone to make sure he was entering my number exactly right. I watched as the muscles in his forearm flexed as he pressed each button.

"Alright, Bethany, I'll talk to you tomorrow, then." With that, he leaned over and gave me a quick hug, barely making it out the door to join his friends.

I stood there stunned for a brief moment. "Did that really just happen?" Amy rushed over to where I was standing, but all I could do was laugh.

"Who was that guy?! He was way cute!! Did he just get your number?! Oh my gosh! Are you going out with him?!"

I finally regained my composure and told her everything.

"Can you believe it?!" I exclaimed. "I doubt I'll be able to concentrate at all at work tomorrow!"

I didn't have to wait until the next day to see him, however. It turned out that our group of friends decided to go out to eat at the same restaurant. Fate? Perhaps :)

As soon as we walked into Applebees, I spotted his friends seated near the bar. I couldn't see where he was sitting exactly, but just knowing he was there immediately gave me butterflies in my stomach. I gathered up my courage and started walking towards his table. One of his friends saw me and waved, making me feel a little braver.

"Hey guys! Long time no see," I said, trying to cover up my nervousness. Everyone stopped their conversation to see who it was. "Just wanted to come over and say, 'Hi.'" All eyes were on me, but I only saw one face. He was seated in the corner between two girls.

"Oh, hey, Bethany!" Shanam said.

"Hey." I smiled and turned my head back to my friends. I saw that they were moving out of the entry-way, so I said, "Oops, I gotta go! They're seating our group, now!" I was glad I didn't have to try and find something to talk about. I had made my appearance and that was good enough for me. Short and sweet. :)

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 2

2012-01-14T00:44:00.000-08:00

*To start at the beginning, click here. *

A little later on, I decided to take a break and catch my breath by the refreshment table. As I was sipping water, the familiar low voice was again by my side.

"It sure is hot in here, isn't it."

This time when I turned to him he was facing the dance floor, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

"It sure is! I can't seem to cool down," I said smiling, happy that he had chosen to come talk to me.

"Do you know how to dance to this?" I asked. The song was a Latin Samba, something that was played often in Florida.

He laughed, "No, not really!"

"Great!" I laughed back, "Me neither. Let's go try it!"

"You're not serious, are you? I really can't dance!"

"That's okay, it'll be fun."

I teased him as I turned around in front of him and started to sway my hips back and forth, leering him onto the dance floor. He smiled and took my hand. As the music played, we twisted and turned, in and out of each other's arms. We filled the space around us with laughter as we tried to imitate what others were doing.

"Are you from Tampa?" he asked.

"No, I live in Orlando. Are you from here? I've never seen you at a dance before," I responded.

Laughing he said, "Yeah, it's been almost two years since I've been to one of these. A friend asked me to help set up for an activity before this and then she made me stay for the dance. I'm from Bradenton. It's about 30 minutes from here."

"I hadn't planned on coming tonight, either," I said. "I was scheduled to work, but luckily I got off early." I hoped he could tell by my voice that I was very happy to be there.

"So, what's your name?" he questioned.

"Bethany, what's yours?"

He paused for a moment, making sure I was listening and said, "Shanam."

"Shanam? How do you spell that?"

"S-H-A-N-A-M."

I thought that was quite an interesting name and I wanted to know more, but it definitely wasn't the time to ask.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Shanam," I said instead.

"You, too, Bethany." Once again flashing his pearly whites.

Slowly, our movements turned from being silly and uncoordinated to smooth and focused. With every pull toward him, I was more and more aware of his warmth and strength and less aware of anything or anyone else around me. When he gently pulled me up from the final dip, and I looked into his eyes, I felt like I was seeing him in a whole new light. It took a moment for me to catch my breath and return back to my surroundings.

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 1

2012-01-13T12:25:00.000-08:00

Friday, May 2, 2008

"You're coming to the dance tonight, right?!" Amy shouted on her way out the door for work.

"I already told you! I have to work!" I shouted back. I was leisurely making breakfast, and didn't want to be reminded that I was going to miss out on all the fun that night.

"Bethany, there are going to be TONS of guys there! You can't miss it! Besides, I need a you. You know I love my men, but I can't take 'em all," she half joked, half pleaded.

"Okay, okay. I'll see what I can do. You better get going, though! You'll be late for work!"

I laughed as she slammed the front door and ran to her car. Sometimes having an afternoon shift at Disney World paid off, but that day I wished I was the one running out the door. Instead, I was scheduled to work until 11:00 p.m., right about when the party in Tampa would be getting started 2 hours away. Only a miracle would get me to that dance!

Later that night, after doing a bit of my own pleading, I got my miracle! My manager at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort agreed to let me leave early! I drove to a gas station by the freeway, where Amy and Jared met me with a change of clothes, and hopped in their car. We were off!

As soon as we arrived in Tampa and walked through the doors of the auditorium, we were greeted by all our friends, beckoning us to join them on the dance floor. Amy and I just looked at each other and smiled. This was what being young and single was all about! The excitement in the air was invigorating and we quickly fell into the rhythm of the music, laughing and smiling, letting the beat control our movements.

"Come with me to pick out a song for Pedro, it's his birthday!"Amy grabbed my arm and we weaved our way up to the front. When we got to the front table, there was only room for one person to squeeze in with the people huddled around the playlist, so I stood close by, offering my opinion, when asked. I was enjoying watching the break-dancers up front when suddenly my admiration was interrupted by a low, deep voice.

"Wow! You remind me of a girl I know from California. You look just like her!"

I turned my head in the direction of the voice and saw a tan, handsome, brunette facing me. I immediately noticed his bright white smile and playful eyes. He was wearing a loose, white button-up shirt, rolled up at the wrists with dark-washed jeans.

"I do?! That's funny, cause that's where I grew up!" I responded. But before I even finished my sentence, he was pulled back into the huddle to help choose the next song. I wondered where he was from and why I had not seen him at a dance before. I wouldn't get the chance to ask, though, because two seconds later, Amy finished up and grabbed my hand to lead me back on to the dance floor.

Let the Love Story Begin!

2012-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

When Shanam and I got engaged, I started writing our love story as a wedding gift for him...but never finished. Actually, I only got to the third date or so :) Hey, it's tough planning a wedding and writing a novel at the same time! (Instead, we had fun reading the journal where I had written down every single text we had ever sent to each other :) We laughed quite a bit!) Anyway, I shared what I had written so far with a few of my friends and it was really fun to have their encouragement to keep going, so I decided to finish what I began exactly three years ago. To help me keep going, I will be posting our story on our blog, in hopes that your encouragement will help me get it done :) My goal is to have it done by the time Michael arrives near the middle of April, so that I can give the book to Shanam for our third anniversary on May 2nd. I figure it is perfect timing since we won't be going on many adventures during my last three months of preggoness, so I really think I can do it. I hope you enjoy going down memory lane with me. :)

P.S. I'll only be using first names of everyone involved, but if you don't want your name in there please let me know and I'll make one up for you :)

Christmas Letter 2011

2012-01-06T11:36:00.001-08:00

*This year we only mailed cards to friends and family not connected through our blog or facebook*

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

It’s Annabelle here, again. Can you believe a year has gone by already! Last time I wrote, I had only been born a couple months prior and now here I am almost walking and talking! I must say, this has been such a wonderful year for my family! Looking back on all our travels and adventures, it feels like we did a great job packing in the fun and making great memories with our loved ones. Isn’t that what life is all about? Well, that’s what I’ve learned life is all about :)

Would you like to see my traveling stats?

• I’ve been to 8 states: Texas (of course), Utah (6 times), New Mexico (5 times), Colorado

(3 times), Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts

• I've been on 6 round trip flights

• I've traveled by car, plane, golf cart, bus, taxi, boat, and subway

• I've been camping 5 times

• I've seen the beach, the mountains, the desert, the forest, the plains, the city, and the country

• I've been to Disney’s Magic Kingdom and EPCOT

What’s even better than having been to all those places with the people I love is that my mom has completely documented every trip so that when I grow up I can look back at all the pictures! She just finished converting the first year of my blog, www.mapetiteannabelle.blogspot.com, into a book! I love it so much already!

Daddy’s work is going really well and we feel so blessed! He did accomplish his goal of getting his pilot’s license this year and has actually been able to use it for work several times. I’m so proud of him and am so grateful that he is so ambitious! My favorite part of the day is when he comes home from work, though :) As soon as I hear him come in the door, I shriek and crawl as fast as I can to him. Then, I sit at his feet with my arms outstretched. I get very impatient if I have to wait for him to even take his shoes off! We love playing in the living room together while mom gets dinner ready.

Mommy is having fun teaching the young women at church and volunteering at her mother’s group. She has made lots of friends there and while she’s with them, I get to play with my friends, too! She did make progress towards her goal of running in a half marathon by doing a 5K during the summer, but she’ll have to wait until next summer to do the half because I’M GETTING A LITTLE BROTHER!!! He is coming at the end of April and I cannot wait to have someone to play with all the time! Mom started a blog for him, too, www.michaelblainemcg.blogspot.com. Hopefully she can keep up with his blog as well as she did with mine!

We’ve got a great year planned ahead and we are looking forward to new adventures! This year we got to visit where Daddy grew up on the east coast and next year we’ll get to visit where Mommy grew up on the west coast. Feel free to keep up with our travels by following our family blog, www.bethanyandshanam.blogspot.com. We love all of you so much and we are so grateful you are part of our lives! May you have a wonderful new year filled with happiness and thanksgiving! :)

Love,

The McGaughys

Christmas 2011

2012-01-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic Christmas!!

We were able to spend almost 2 weeks with most of our extended family. Can't get any better than that! At the Campbell home, we played LRC, watched Annabelle, ate delicious tacos at the traditional Campbell Christmas Taco Party, watched football and movies and Annabelle, sang karaoke, watched Annabelle dance to our karaoke, and I did puzzles while everyone else watched Annabelle some more :) I sure do love going home for vacations!

GG Penny got Annabelle a voice recorded book for Christmas and it will be a present that we will cherish forever :)

Over at the McG residence we played with the kittens, watched Annabelle play on the rocking tigger and her new rocking horse, ate delicious food, played bridge and Apples to Apples, and watched Annabelle some more. Did I mention how much I love going home for vacation? :)

We also went to the Riverwoods in Orem to see the pretty lights. Annabelle loved them!

Shanam made sure to go on lots of crazy adventures in the mountains with his dad and the pups, but as a family we decided to keep it low key and introduce Annabelle to inner-tubing at Soldier Hollow. She had fun but I think she'll enjoy the snow a lot more next year when she can run and play in it on her own :)

Thanksgiving in Pagosa Springs!!

2011-12-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

* Remember to click on the picture collage to see it larger*

For Thanksgiving we decided to meet Shanam's family in the middle and drive to Pagosa Springs, CO. They had been wanting to see it ever since we fell in love with it over the summer, so it was the perfect opportunity. We rented a little cabin in the woods and thoroughly enjoyed our week-long escape. We had our traditional lobster feast for our Thanksgiving dinner and had plenty of time to not only relax but enjoy the great outdoors (of course)!

Annabelle enjoyed the many stories read to her and the countless hours of play time with her family.

I enjoyed trying a new recipe for the pumpkin pie. I combined two different recipes, changing the milk and sugar to coconut milk and agave nectar. Amazingly, it was a huge hit and the whole family loved it! I like it even better than the original recipe! Success!! Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Pie w/ Whole Wheat & Oat Pie Crust

Serves: 8

• 1/2 Cup Agave Nectar

• 1/4 Cup Real Maple Syrup or Brown Sugar

• 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg or Allspice

• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

• 2 Large Eggs

• 15-ounce Fresh or Canned Pumpkin Puree

• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

• 1 Cup Regular Coconut Milk

Preheat your oven to 425ºF.

Combine the sugars, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg or allspice, cloves and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Beat in the sugar mixture, pumpkin, and vanilla until smooth. Fold in the coconut milk.

Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 350ºF and continue to bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted comes out clean. It may be a bit wobbly still, but it will firm-up as it cools.

Allow the pie to cool on a wire rack for 2 hours (Be patient! This is important). Serve or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Whole Wheat and Oat Pie Crust

Yields one 9 ½" crust

• 1 ¼ cup whole wheat flour

• ½ cup oat flour

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup butter

• 4 tablespoons cold water

Directions:

In a medium bowl stir together flours and salt.

Cut butter into flour until butter is pea-sized.

Form a well in the middle of flour. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time, using fork to stir.

Form dough into a ball. Place ball of dough between two pieces of parchment paper. Starting from center of dough, roll out to edge until dough is 13" in diameter. Remove top piece of paper and carefully peel crust off of bottom paper.

Place crust in 9 ½ " pie pan. Trim excess crust off.

For pre-baked pastry shell, prick bottom and sides of pastry liberally before baking at 425ºF for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Shanam, his dad, and the pups enjoyed romping around in the snow, snowshoeing and skiing.

We went on several hikes and got to try out Annabelle's new carrier. She absolutely loved it and it was wonderful to be out in the fresh, cool air.

This was such a gorgeous hike and we will definitely be going back next year when the aspen trees are in their full splendor!

Great Barrington, MA!!

2011-10-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful week we just had!!! Shanam has always wanted to take me back to show me where he grew up, and the perfect opportunity came during the second week of October! It was as if we were transported back in time as we explored his childhood stomping ground with his good childhood buddy, Leif. Our trip could not have gone any better and it was so neat to be able to see the beautiful area where he lived. He is always telling me fun stories about his childhood and now I can picture it perfectly!

October 5

He and his sister attended a Rudolf Steiner School instead of a traditional elementary school. This is where he and Leif first became friends.

The grounds were beautiful and the classrooms were even more beautiful! There is just a special, calm feeling when you enter and see the rooms :) All the walls were colored in soft pastels, green plants adorned every corner, the desks were wooden, and gorgeous chalk drawings decorated the chalkboards. They learned how to knit and felt, carve wood, play musical instruments and speak a foreign language. Art and color is included in every subject including math and they take a movement class called eurythmy. I loved seeing everything!

Something else that is unique is that they have the same teacher from first grade all the way through eighth grade! Shanam was able to contact his teacher who still teaches there and meet with him, as well as be introduced to his current class. It was a sweet reunion, to say the least :) The class loved asking the guys questions and the girls especially took a liking to Annabelle. They all wanted to hold her :) We spent a good three hours exploring the school and chatting with everyone. Shanam was able to see a lot of people he didn't realize were still there, including his sister's old teacher!

He then took me to see his old house. Isn't it so cute?! It was fun to see wood chip piles that were still there in the backyard from when Shanam put them there :)

We then went to visit Leif's next door neighbors, where the guys had spent many hours working on their farm and helping out around the house.

They spent many a day inside that red barn :)

Last stop was to visit his old eurythmy teacher who now owns a bed and breakfast just outside of town.

Meeting characters from Shanam's past and seeing how excited they were to see him again, made me love him that much more! He has become the man he is because of the influence of a lot of these people, including his best friend, Leif. Even after all these years they were each others best man and still talk on the phone almost every day :) It's rare to find a life friend like that and I'm so grateful he has Leif :)

After Great Barrington, we made our way to Leif's in-laws house who live just outside of Albany where we gratefully stayed the night :) Thank you Tony and Sylvia!

Lake Placid, NY!!

2011-10-21T07:20:00.001-07:00

October 6

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with Leif's in-laws at the Ugly Rooster, then we hit the road again! Lake Placid was our next stop!

Aren't you jealous that this is where Shanam got to go to high school?! We took a drive around the lake, through the town and arrived at their school, National Sports Academy. They would make that 3 mile jog around the lake every morning during training season. It was fun to see the exact pavement they pounded over and over again :)

Shanam and Leif roomed together in one of the top floor dorms. They would have school for about 3-4 hours a day then ski for the rest of the day...not bad :)

We were able to meet up with some of their old teachers who gave us a tour of the school and reminisced over old memories. They loved seeing the guys again and meeting Shanam's adorable daughter :) I loved watching the current students go about their business and envisioned what Shanam was like as a teenager roaming the same halls, eating in the same mess hall :)

They even saw one of their old ski coaches who still coaches there!

After our trip down memory lane we grabbed some delicious crepes in town then made our way up to the ski area where they used to train.

The ski area was gorgeous and they showed me their private ski lift and equipment buildings. So cool! Then we headed up the mountain to the top of Whiteface. The guys decided they needed a little exercise, so they climbed up from the parking lot.

Annabelle and I opted to walk the 500 ft tunnel to the 300 ft elevator and meet them at the top. I wasn't too surprised, though, to find that the guys had beat us there :)

The view was amazing!

That's Lake Placid down below.

New York, NY!!

2011-10-20T09:13:00.001-07:00

October 7, 8, & 9

The yellow squared building in the middle of the picture is where we got to stay!! Shanam's best friend, Leif, and his wife, Erika, live on the 35th floor. Check out the view from the top!!

The complex is located in the financial district, at the very tip of Manhatten. It was an easy walk to most places we wanted to visit. Our first stop was Chinatown for lunch and Little Italy for dessert. Ever since Shanam and I started dating he told me he wanted to take me to New York to do those two things, among other things of course :) Little did we know at the time that we wouldn't be alone! We'd have a third member along for the ride! Annabelle loved it :) And now we can cross it off our bucket list!

Is wasn't long, though, before she was out! Still holding on :)

After exploring Little Italy and indulging in some amazing pastries, we went for a stroll into Tribeca, then down to where the new World Trade Center is being built. Quite the site, that's for sure! It's going to be gorgeous!

We weren't able to see the memorial up close but we got a good view looking out over it.

And speaking of gorgeous buildings, look at this amazing architecture!

This is the highest residential building in America with 76 floors!!

The next morning we decided to hop on the the Staton Island Ferry and check out the one and only (well, kinda ;) Statue of Liberty! Annabelle had fun riding on the windy boat :)

Then we took a ride on the subway up to Columbus Circle where we had lunch at Whole Foods and explored the area. First stop was the temple!! Absolutely loved seeing it!

Then we explored Central Park :) Did I mention that the weather was incredibly beautiful? It couldn't have been more perfect for a stroll through the prettiest part of the city :)

We grabbed some dumplings and ice cream at Tavern on the Green and watched all the people riding their bikes and walking past us. Almost as good of a spot to people watch as the airport :) I think better!

We then made our way down 5th Avenue, peaking in all the windows at the expensive jewelry, watches and designer clothes :) Then over to the Rockefeller Center and down into Times Square! Whew! Annabelle was a trooper and sat watching everything in her stroller until we got to Times Square. Then she couldn't see much because of all the people, so Shanam put her up on his shoulders and she was happy as could be! She waved and smiled at everyone passing by and couldn't believe all the lights! It was a rare moment that her arms weren't flapping :)

The next morning we took a walk to the Brooklyn Bridge and walked to the middle and back. What a neat bridge! Probably the coolest I've ever been on!

Shanam had to head back home early for business, so as he got ready to go, Annabelle and I hopped on the subway for an hour ride to Queens. There we met up with my cousin, Channing, and her husband, Alan. We went to church with them, then had a wonderful homemade dinner of potato soup, bread, and cinnamon rolls. It was so great to see them and so wonderful to not have to eat out! Thanks for a great afternoon, Channing!

Our trip was so wonderful and we definitely want to go back again and cross more things off our list of things to do and see there! Thanks so much Leif and Erika for being such amazing friends!

Labor Day Weekend in Ruidoso

2011-09-29T11:26:00.001-07:00

We left West Texas in search of some cooler weather and we definitely found it in Ruidoso. It rained nearly the whole time we were there! Our first night camping, there was a huge thunderstorm and rain beat on our tent all night long :) It was so beautiful!!! Luckily Annabelle wasn't frightened at all! She slept right through it!

We were able to go for a short hike by our campsite between rainstorms the next day. Everything was so fresh and green! It definitely filled my soul with what it's been longing for :) Annabelle has gotten too big for her carrier so she preferred Daddy's shoulders :)

On the last day we were there we decided to attempt climbing Sierra Blanca, the highest peak in Ruidoso. That's the peak in back of us in the above picture. To get to the trail head, we had to drive up steep mountains until we got to the ski resort. We left early to get a good start but were soon wondering if that was a good idea. As we kept climbing higher into the clouds, the clouds got thicker and the temperature got very cold! But then all of the sudden, we broke through the clouds and sunlight filled the car!! We had climbed higher than the rain clouds!!! The weather was absolutely gorgeous up there and we enjoyed a beautiful hike in the morning sunshine :)

We didn't make it to the top but we definitely enjoyed the views along the way!

Looks like we took this out an airplane window, huh!

This was at an overlook on our way back down the mountain. I couldn't help but think of all the people down under the clouds who were missing out on all the great sunshine we were enjoying. Then, I could help but liken it to the gospel. So many people go through life not knowing that if they just climbed a little higher, searched a little farther, opened their hearts just a little more, the light of the gospel would filled their souls so fully that they would never want to descend back into the clouds of darkness again. Unfortunately, we had to go back down the mountain and head back home to the dry heat. But we know where to come back :)

Cloudcroft!

2011-08-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

The record breaking heat has really been getting to Shanam, so we hit the road again with only one destination in mind...the mountains :) Thank goodness the national forest at Cloudcroft was open again and we only had to drive a few hours to get there! Our good friends Laura and Kurt came with us and we had a ton of fun! Annabelle especially loved the extra attention :)

We enjoyed a couple nights at our cool campsite staying warm by the fire, eating pasta salad and salmon, loving some great homemade chocolate zucchini bread and green smoothies, and laughing at the dogs :)

In the morning we hit the trail and enjoyed a gorgeous hike along the rim trail. Annabelle slept through most of it :)

We hiked up to the lookout point where Laura and I had hiked last July when I was 5 months pregnant :) We're determined to get a picture here every year!

The next day we decided to enjoy the gorgeous golf course. Annabelle especially loved taking the wheel!

Before we left, we went for a little drive and discovered this beautiful waterfall! We hiked up to the top and found the source of the water to be a natural spring coming out of the rocks! It was so beautiful! (In the picture, I'm tickling Annabelle's back with my mouth, that's why she looks so funny :) We had such a wonderful trip, just like we always do!

Florida!!!

2011-07-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

Last Monday we left for our long awaited adventure to Florida! We couldn't wait to see family and friends and make wonderful memories at the "happiest place on earth!"

We stayed at Shanam's grandma's house for the week and Annabelle made sure to get in her pool at least once a day :) Her Aunt Elana got the brunt of the splashing, but I think she enjoyed it :) Our week was filled with fun!!!

THE BEACH!!!

We made sure to visit the same beach where the magic all began, Siesta Key Beach! That day we watched as our beautiful little girl sat and played in the same fine white sand we stood in three years ago where we shared our first kiss at sunset :) It's amazing how much can happen in such a short period of time!

Annabelle loved playing in the sand and water!

On another day we went to Anna Maria Island to enjoy the sunset and beautiful weather. We hadn't planned on going in the water, but the water was way too perfect to not let Annabelle sit and enjoy it :)

WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!

My wonderful friends and fellow interns at the greenhouses were so kind to let us into the parks for a day! We spent a wonderful time visiting with our former manager and admiring the greenhouses that we all missed so much :)

Then it was off to Magic Kingdom!!

Doesn't Annabelle look so excited to be there?! Haha!

I had to make sure to get on a few roller coasters :)

Annabelle rode her first ride, It's a Small World! GranEllen had always dreamed of the day when she could take her grandchildren on this ride, so we made sure Annabelle sat on her lap through the whole thing :) Instead of sit, though, I should say stand and flap! She loved it :)

FOOD!!!

We actually changed our flight to leave a day earlier than we had planned. On Sunday, his Grandma told him about this restaurant that had a lobster special on Tuesday nights, Shanam was on the phone to Southwest right away! I'm glad he did it because that lobster was SO GOOD!!

For his Aunt Carol's birthday we went to an Indian buffet for lunch. AMAZING!!

Then another day, we went to the harbor and had lunch on the water. Fresh grouper from Florida is the best!!!

Then, of course, we had to eat at Bahama Breeze :) I can't ever pass up the chance when I'm in Florida! Jennlyn met us there for lunch before we went to WDW. It was so great to see her and enjoy delicious fish tacos and coconut shrimp together :)

We really miss good food out here in West Texas and love to take full advantage of great restaurants when we travel! Our trip was exactly what we had wanted! Full of fun, sun, rain, family, friends, and food :) Thank you Grandma for letting us come stay with you! Hopefully next summer we can do the same thing all over again!! Love you!

Pagosa Springs, CO!!!

2011-07-08T19:09:00.001-07:00

Day 1, Friday July 1, 2011

At 12 noon we had the car packed and we were outta there! No more 100 degree weather for us! We were off to the closest mountain range that wasn't closed...8 hours away. We were planning on going to Taos, New Mexico, but the day before we left they announced that the entire forest was closed, just like Ruidoso and Cloudcroft had announced 2 months prior. What's a mountain lovin family supposed to do?! Is an eight hour drive with a baby and two dogs worth it for just one weekend in the mountains?! Oh yeah, baby!!!!

Going from this......

To this :)

We greeted the cool air, rolling hills, 14 ft mountains, and green trees with joy and excitement as we finally arrived!! Just a short drive out of town into the San Juan National Forest and we found us a perfect little place to set up camp. After putting our tent up, we went back to PS and dined at the best rated and finest restaurant in town, The Alley House. Every single bite was incredible!

Day 2

We woke up bright and early, ready for the adventures ahead! Annabelle did great for her second camping trip ever :)

We enjoyed the brisk morning air as we we tried to figure out what hikes we were going to do first. The pups, meanwhile, were happy to frolic in the brush and run through the trees chasing each other. They were definitely ready for the adventures ahead!

We decided on the Piedre River Trail first. This is a gorgeous trail that follows the river right through amazing gorges, where cliffs rise up above you on both sides. So cool!!

Here's our cute little family enjoying our first pit stop.

Sophie was in absolute heaven! She was swimming and splashing all over the place, while Sasha on the other hand would get in to drink and never let the water go past her ankles. Silly dogs :)

This was our second pit stop in the shade. Shanam devised a way to let her hang in the carrier like a hammock so she could cool off and lay back and relax :)

A peek at the river

And now a full view :)

Sophie and Sasha beat us back to the car and what did we find when we got there? Sophie was lying under our car in the shade, while Sasha had decided to jump in the back of this guys trunk next to us!! Luckily he was a good sport about it, but boy was it hard to get her out of there!

Next stop was Piedre Falls, up the road a few miles. Annabelle slept through the entire hike so she didn't get to see it, but this was one powerful waterfall! The water was just gushing through the rocks! Afterward, we made our way back to town for some fish tacos then hung out at our camp site for the rest of the evening. Annabelle went to bed pretty early so that gave Shanam and I time to wander around the meadows for a little while, until the sun went down :)

Day 3
Bright and early again for another hike to another waterfall! This was a 6 mile round trip hike to Fourmile Falls. The trail was absolutely breathtaking! We were the only ones on it, too, since we had left so early!

Good morning, sunshine!

The trip would have been worth it if we had only come up for one day and had only done this one hike! That's how good this was!

Just look at this breathtaking, picture perfect sight! We were almost to the waterfall!

And here she is, in all her glory :)

With a rainbow, even!

Hello world!

Isn't this the cutest picture you ever did see?! Shanam and his girls :)

Ok, well maybe these are the cutest pictures :) After our hike we went back to town and had lunch on a river front cafe. Annabelle was definitely cheesin it up! Then, since she needed a nap, we decided to go for a drive and find where the local ski resort was. Along the drive, we passed a sign that said Lobo Overlook, so of course we had to go check it out! We climbed a very steep, windy road until we got to the very top. There was still snow covering the ground and road, so we had to get out and hike the rest of the way, but the view was spectacular!

The puppies, of course, enjoyed the snow :)

While driving, we also passed over the Continental Divide! I, of course, couldn't pass up the perfect picture opportunity :) Here I am, straddling The Great Divide :)

And there it goes, off into the forest :)

Day 4

Shanam woke up bright and early and hiked the tallest peak in Pagosa Springs, Pagosa Peak!

Aren't those views incredible! It was a steep 4 mile hike to the peak, sitting at 12,400 ft! He and the pups did the whole hike in 3 hours!

Just look at that stunning view!

I'm so glad he has the pups to go with him on his crazy adventures, when we're not there :)

We left that afternoon and enjoyed our nice 8 hour drive home. We were all exhausted and we barely even heard a peep from the pups in the back. Shanam definitely wore them out! It was a great adventure and I must have heard Shanam say he wanted to move there at least 20 times! The town is really pretty, too, and has a river that runs right through it that people inner tube and raft down. I'd be up for getting a nice little cabin there, for sure!

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, this year we were not able to spend the holiday together :( I got to go off to Utah with Annabelle to play with family for a week while Shanam had to stay behind and work. For the weekend, though, he was determined not to stay in the 106 degree West Texas heat. His original plan was to go to Cloudcroft and Ruidoso with the pups, like we always do when we want to escape the heat, but we found out the forests were closed!!! It's too dry there, too! So he had to go to the next closest mountain range...Taos, New Mexico. And what's in Taos, you ask? Well, none other than the tallest mountain in New Mexico, Wheeler Peak! He got to summit his first state high point of the year! Of course it doesn't really count towards our family count, but we'll go back soon so we can all do it together :) The pups had a great time frolicking in the snow bank on the side of the mountain while Shanam braved the 80 mph wind to get to the top! He could barely stand up, but he made it!!

While Shanam was battling the forces of nature above all of New Mexico, Annabelle, Ellen and I enjoyed a beautiful sun-shiny day in SLC, walking among beautiful flowering trees and meeting friends for lunch :) (So wonderful to see you, Amy!) The rest of the time we were there it was raining (so nice!!!), but we were happy to enjoy a few hours in the sun!

Our week in Utah was spent enjoying the company and love of family! One of the funniest nights was while playing LRC. My family can get pretty loud, and it scares Annabelle, so after I told them to shhh, the game took up a life of it's own. I think everyone was in tears by the end of the game because we were all laughing so hard!

It was so great to see everyone and we can't wait to go back!

Making Headway!

2011-05-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

If you remember back to our family New Years letter, one of my goals was to run a half marathon and one of Shanam's goals was to get his pilots license. Well, today we've made some big steps toward those goals :) On Monday morning I was looking up some local 5K's that I could possibly do and there was one for today, Saturday, in Big Spring, TX which is about 60 miles away. When I told Shanam that I was interested in doing that one, he said, "No way! That's where I have to go to take my FAA written exam! Maybe if I study every night I can be ready to take it by Saturday." So he studied until 1 am every night and I ran 2-3 miles every day, so by the time Saturday rolled around, we were both ready and excited! I dropped him off at the airport testing center, kissed him good luck and Annabelle and I went on to Big Spring State Park where we registered and ran our first 5K! It was great! There were more hills than I'm used to, but we had a great run and had fun doing it! After they passed out awards for the top 3 males and females I shouted out, "What about the stroller division?!" You see...I was the only one there jogging with a stroller :) They said I got first place and everyone laughed and clapped for me :) A lot of them came over to check out Annabelle's jogging stroller, like they had never seen one before, and to say hi to Annabelle :) She was a star :) Shortly after, Shanam called to say he had passed the exam!! He was kinda nervous because it's a hard test. There were 60 questions pulled from a bank of 3000, but he did it!! We both felt great after accomplishing such big steps! Now he just has a few more hours in the plane and one long cross country trip he has to do solo and he'll be a pilot!! I'm now training for a 10K and my body feels better and better during each run!

Sophie vs Sasha

2011-05-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

The ranch where we get the pups meat from delivered us some cattle bones last week, per Shanam's request :) I'm not sure he realized just how big they were going to be! :) I was laughing so hard I could barely take the picture!

Sophie dug in right away...

Sasha was afraid of it...LOL!

That's just one small difference between these two crazy dogs. They may be sisters but, boy, do they have different personalities! First of all, they look very different. Sophie's nickname is Sophie-Bear because of her thick fluffy hair. The hair on her tail is so long and fluffy it reminds us of a feather plume! Sasha'a hair is short and not as soft but it has a beautiful red tint to it and is very shiny. Sophie always wants attention and will bark to get it. That's the only time she barks. Once she gets it, she will usually roll over to her back so we can have full access to her belly for a good rubbing :) Sasha doesn't need attention but if she wants it, she'll make a noise very similar to the noise Chewbacca makes.

They are both very good with Annabelle and will let her pet their noses and pull their hair. She in turn, lets them lick her feet with glee :) Sophie loves the water and her kiddy pool while Sasha will have nothing to do with water.

I always know when the ice cream truck is near because Sophie howls each and every time. It's really kind of funny :) She also howls whenever she hears a siren. Sasha only howls if Shanam takes Sophie on a run and leaves her behind in the backyard. Don't worry, she gets her turn, too :) And this is the way they play fetch...

They still love to wrestle and have pretty much destroyed our back yard, but we sure love them :)

Utah Travels!

2011-05-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

Our first trip to Utah and Annabelle's first plane ride was right after my birthday, Mar 22-29. All the family was so excited to see her! The last time, during Christmas, she was only 2 months old and couldn't hold her head up for very long. Now she was almost sitting up and laughing non-stop :) She did great on the plane and is a wonderful travel companion!

The next trip to Utah was for Easter, April 22-May 1! On my list of things we had to do was go to Thanksgiving Point Gardens for the tulip festival so I could get a picture of her with all the beautiful flowers :) It was great seeing extended family I hadn't seen in a long time and having them meet Annabelle!

Then, Shanam was able to join us the next weekend! He got in some great powder days and we even got to go out on a date for the first time since Annabelle was born! Shanam's mom watched Annabelle while we celebrated our 2 year anniversary with a couples massage (thank you so so so much Laura!) in SLC and dinner at The Metropolitan. The massage and the food were divine!!! Those have to be among my two very favorite things in life, so of course I was in heaven! Happy Anniversary to us!

It was wonderful having Shanam with us on the plane ride home!

Next trip to Utah will be for Memorial Day!

Birthday Celebrations!

2011-03-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

For my 29th Birthday this year, I was lucky enough to spend it with my little family and the youth in our church by going bowling first thing in the morning!

We all had a lot of fun and Annabelle had a good time being passed around :)

Shanam found it beneficial to use baby powder on the bottom of his shoes to make them slide better :)

Here's everyone showing off their moves! After bowling the kids went home and we stayed in town to go shopping! I got some new clothes, yay!! Then we went out to dinner at the Garlic Press. My absolute favorite restaurant in Midland :)

The next night, Ed and Andrea had us over for fish tacos and chocolate cake to celebrate :) They have always been so sweet to me!

The next B-Day celebration was in April for Laura! We went over to Ed and Andrea's again for drinks and appetizers. She even got to mount a horse and take pictures on it in her birthday dress :) Can you tell by this picture that Auntie Laura and Annabelle love each other very much? :)

Camping with Annabelle and the Pups

2011-03-16T13:22:00.001-07:00

It hadn't even been a week from getting back from Telluride that Shanam wanted to go back to the mountains :) So, we planned our little camping trip for Ruidoso and counted down the days until we left :) We decided to just go for one night, since we weren't sure how Annabelle would do, so we left Saturday morning bright and early and got there around 1. We all needed to get out and move around, so for our first adventure we hit the trails! I picked a few connecting trails that would take us into the mountains, then out along the crest and back down to our campsite where our car was. About a 1200 ft elevation gain and about 5 miles. Not too bad :) The hike started out great, nice and easy ascent, great views, and we even took both dogs off the leash to see how they would do.

Annabelle loved riding with her daddy :)

She fell asleep during the first leg of the trip.

The pups loved playing in the little snow they found :) They actually did really well staying with us and came running back whenever Shanam called for them. From everything we read, we were not expecting them to behave so well offleash, so we were very happy and proud of them, to say the least!!! There was a time, though, when we got to the top and stopped for little while, when I had to feed and change Annabelle, that they got a little too distracted and Shanam had to try and go find them. I continued on up the trail only to turn the corner to a whole mountain of snow blocking the trail. Annabelle and I tried to get across, but it was just too deep so we called Shanam to tell him we'd be coming back down the same trail we went up. This was after hiking four miles up, having one mile left, but now having to hike back four miles, instead :( Not too great, especially since Annabelle was pretty much done hiking and Shanam still couldn't find the dogs. It was starting to get dark, so we hurried as fast as we could. Shanam met us a little way down the mountain with still no dogs and very discouraged. Huskies will run for miles without realizing how far they had gone our where they were, so we were expecting the worst. As we continued down, who should come racing up the trail!? Why, Sophie and Sasha, of course! I think they were just as excited to see us as we were to see them! From then on, they stayed very close to us, all the way to the car! By the time we got there, it was very dark and cold and I was absolutely exhausted! We drove to town to eat dinner then came back to set up camp. Annabelle and I stayed warm in the car while Shanam put up the tent and got all our sleeping bags ready. What a gentleman :) We were happy to climb in and get some rest!

Annabelle did great!!!! She slept all through the night, only waking up to eat a few times. She just stayed right in my bag with me, curled up by my side :) I, however, had a harder time sleeping, but that's ok. I still felt great in the morning, waking up to the fresh morning air.

Shanam made a campfire to help keep us warm in the freezing weather. It felt lovely!

I think Annabelle likes camping :) Can you tell? :) While she and I stayed at the site in the morning, Shanam took the pups with him mountain biking. They did great, until a deer crossed right in front of them, and the chase was on!! Shanam waited for them in a clearing, but when they didn't come to his calls, he headed back down to the car. And guess who was there waiting for him?! That's right, our crazy dogs :) He was once again more than relieved! Right when we got back home we ordered some training, shock collars for them. Hopefully that will break them out of their hunting trance and we can take them into the mountains again with no worries! We were blessed nothing went wrong and we all got back in one piece together!

Telluride & Durango, CO!!

2011-03-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

Who says traveling with a baby isn't easy :) Sure our plans had to be adapted slightly, but we were still able to make it up to Colorado and thoroughly enjoy our time there! After seeingTelluride during the summer, we knew we had to come back during the winter. And once again, we met Shanam's family there :) While he, his dad and sister went cross country skiing with the pups, Laura, his mom, Annabelle and I checked out the town. We went shopping, visited the town museum where Ellen recognized some friends in a slide show they had from the 70's, rode the gondola into Mountain Village, and ate lunch at a lovely Italian pizzeria.

Isn't the town's backdrop gorgeous!! I want a cute pink house in Telluride!

We all met up for dinner that night at a great Asian restaurant that I highly recommend!

GranEllen and Annabelle loved seeing eachother again :)

Then it was time for Annabelle's first snowshoeing adventure! She rode with GranEllen in our Ergo baby carrier and fell asleep within the first 10 minutes :) And Laura and I got to experience being pulled up the mountain by Sophie & Sasha!! It was so gorgeous being up there!

This is what each night looked like! We were a little exhausted :)

On the way home we stopped in Durango for some root beer. Whenever we go through, we always try and stop because their root beer is delicious!! Go to Carver's Brewery on Main Street. They sweeten their root beer with local honey instead of sugar or corn syrup. It's definitely worth the stop, and their food is excellent, too! This time we met one of Laura's friends at the pub. She's a teacher there and a river rafting guide during the summer. It was great to meet her, and hopefully during the summer we'll be able to go back and go rafting with her!

Annabelle did such a great job during the whole trip! We think she enjoys traveling and seeing new places just as much as we do!

Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-21T15:02:00.001-08:00

Since last Valentine's Day was so great, we wanted to keep the tradition and prepare a gourmet dinner together instead of going out. After trying to figure out what we wanted to make we thought it would be fun to stick with the same three main ingredients (stuffed mushrooms, scallops, and asparagus) but make different recipes with them. So this is what we made:

(click on each recipe title to be taken to the recipe)

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

This was an ok recipe but we would make some some changes to it

Had to get the same shot of Shanam searing the scallops :)

We made Crustless Goat Cheese Asparagus Quiche but that recipe came from a magazine

Seared Scallops with Leeks and Lemon-Chili Butter

Soooooooooo delicious! Such a great combination of flavors!

Bananas Foster

Amazing!! This is what Shanam wanted to try and make, flaming rum and everything, and it turned out so good!

We love sharing our love for good food on Valentine's Day!

Man's Best Friend

2011-02-21T13:52:00.001-08:00

This is what happens when Shanam gets home from work. :) After saying hello to his girls (Annabelle and me), he'll open the back door to say hello to his "other" girls. They barge through the door, frantic to see him, and almost tackle him to the floor! He'll get down and wrestle with them for a good 10 minutes before they let him get up and do something else.

I can understand why they love him so much. It's because he loves them so much. He spent 3 weekends (one very snowy, 18 degree weekend) constructing this doghouse, or penthouse as I like to call it, for them. It's 3ft x4ft, insulated, air-conditioned, and has a removable roof, doggy door, and huge pillows.

I can guarantee you, no other huskies in Texas get this kind of treatment! Now they're all ready to beat the heat during the summer. It was quite the project and Shanam did a very impressive job!

Almost every night he brushes them, and if you can't tell, Sophie loves it :) Sasha gets jealous when it's not her turn and will either try to play with Sophie to distract her or play with Shanam's toes :)

This is what happens when Shanam leaves. Are you feeling the love, yet?

Our New Years Letter!

2011-01-07T10:30:00.001-08:00

Hello Friends & Family!

Happy New Year! It’s me, Annabelle! I’m the newest addition to the McGaughy family! I am so happy to finally be here! I know I haven’t met most of you yet, but I hope to meet you soon. J I was born October 28^th at 6:09 am. My mom says I did such a great job during the birth because it only took me 3 hours to make my appearance! If you want to read more about that crazy story, check out the blog my mom is making for me! But, shhh, don’t tell her I told you! I’m not supposed to know about it yet. It’s a surprise for when I’m older! J The address is mapetiteannabelle.blogspot.com. You’ll see tons of pictures and updates on how I’m growing and how cute I’m getting. Hehe! So far, I’ve been having a great time with my family! This world is so amazing! There is so much to see and do and I just can’t wait until I’m big enough to do it all!

I must say, though, I have been able to do a lot so far! Sure, I was inside my mommy’s tummy through it all, but it still counts, right? J This past year was very eventful for my family. We were able to go on many fun trips and do really fun things. Here is a list of all the places we visited:

Baltimore, Maryland

Utah - 3 times

Jackson Hole

Grand Teton National Park

Austin, Texas

Santa Fe, New Mexico

White Sands, New Mexico

Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Ruidoso, New Mexico

Florida - 2 times

Telluride, Colorado

Alpine & Fort Davis, Texas

Why do we get to go on so many fun trips? Well, not only do we love to travel and explore new places…but have you seen where we live? Daddy works as a general manager for an oil company out here in Andrews, and while we are grateful he has such a great job, sometimes it feels like West Texas is its own far away country. If you lived here, you would make time to travel, too! J While on our many adventures, I’ve been able to go hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, camping, golfing, swimming, dancing, and I even rode a ride at Walt Disney World! Mom said it would be okay if we went on Tower of Terror since it is one of her favorite rides and I was weightless already, you know, floating around in her belly. J Feel free to read all the details of our past trips and upcoming ones on our adventure blog, bethanyandshanam.blogspot.com.

Our family is extremely excited for the new year! Want to know what we have planned? One of the most exciting adventures, is we are planning to climb to the top of 30 state highpoints while Daddy is 30. This requires a road trip to the east coast where we will reach 22 state highpoints in 10 days! Our two Siberian huskies, Sophie and Sasha, will come and climb with us, too! Anyone want to loan us an RV? J Dad also plans on getting his pilot’s license this year. He’s finally going to be able to finish what he started 3 years ago! Then he’ll be able to fly us to our favorite places to camp, Ruidoso and Cloudcroft, NM. We’ll be able to spend more time in the mountains and less time driving!

Mommy, well, she has a lot she wants to do this year! She really wants to be able to knit hats and sweaters and socks for me, but first, she’s got to learn how to knit. J So, that’s on her list of things to learn. Before I was born, she really got into fitness and running, so she’s excited to get back into shape and plans on running a half marathon before the end of the year! Go, mom! Also on her list, is to grow a big garden this summer and eat lots of fresh vegetables. I’m excited for that, too, because she says she’ll make me baby food from our garden! Yummy! She plans on keeping her personal blog updated with healthy recipes, crafts, decoration ideas, gardening tips, and fun stories, so make sure to watch for updates at bapaslittlebee.blogspot.com.

This is going to be a very busy year for me, as well! I’ve got to learn how to roll over, sit up, crawl, chew, walk, and talk! That’s a lot! So, wish me health and patience as I learn how to use this little body of mine! J From our family to yours, we hope there is happiness and harmony in your home and plenty of love and laughter to share with those around you!

Christmas Vacation!!

2011-01-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

Our adventure began on Tuesday, December 28 at 1700 hours. We had a 16 hour, 950 mile road trip ahead of us with a 2 month old baby and two 4 month old puppies. What laid ahead...we didn't know...but we hit the open road with a prayer in our hearts and a sincere hope that it wouldn't get too crazy :) Utah or bust!

Gratefully, the pups were awesome and Annabelle was an angel! We would have made it to American Fork in good time, but we had a slight hiccup...okay, major belch...at the top of Price Canyon, in the middle of a snow storm, no less. Our radiator hose blew and our engine overheated...not cool! But luckily we weren't too far from home! After 4 hours of being stranded in the cold, Shanam's mom came to the rescue and picked us up, AAA towed our car to a shop in Provo, and we were once again warmed by a functioning heater. Amazingly, Annabelle and the puppies slept through it all, without one single peep! Now that is a Christmas miracle!

First thing the next day, Shanam introduced the pups to the snow and took them snowshoeing with his family. Sophie and Sasha were in heaven! As soon as they hit the powder they wanted to run, run, run! It's amazing to watch their instincts kick in! And boy did they look gorgeous in the snow! They were definitely in their element...it's just like watching Shanam when he hits the slopes :) (Don't forget to click on the photo so you can see it bigger! I love the photo of Shanam and his two girls in the top right corner :)

Christmas with family was absolutely wonderful!!!!!!! They all loved meeting Annabelle and we had such a great time visiting, laughing, eating, and playing! This was Christmas dinner with Shanam's fam...yummy lobster once again! I love that holiday tradition :)

And here we are with my fam! Being home for the holidays is what it's all about!

Annabelle was blessed on the day after Christmas (isn't her dress gorgeous! It's Belgian!) and all 3 great grandmas and grandmas were there, so of course we had to take a picture! Never know when that will happen again! So, from the left on the couch is my dad's mom, GG Penny, then Shanam's mom's mom, GreatGamma, and my mom's mom, Nana. What a great and wonderful group of women I get to claim as family!

We also met up with Bre and Sydne's family. Emily was our fourth roommate from our Devonshire college days who had a baby this year but she couldn't make it. We missed her :( It was so fun to get all our babies together and of course to be with the girls again :)

One thing we had to do while in Utah was see the Temple Square Christmas lights, of course! The place was packed with people but definitely worth every shoulder bump :) The place was gorgeous! Annabelle stayed nice and cozy wrapped to my body underneath my coat jacket. She loved looking at the lights for all of two minutes then fell fast asleep :) An awesome dinner at our favorite Salt Lake City pizza place, Settabellos, came next! Some of the other vacation events included skiing, playing laser tag, enjoying sushi, feasting on an amazing dinner at La Caille (a perfect Christmas gift from my brother), and lots of family bonding time. We couldn't have asked for a better 12 days of Christmas :)

Doesn't it just look so beautiful...cold, but beautiful! :) None of us wanted to leave :( But alas, we're in Texas for a reason and we love all the great friends we've made there, so we had to go back. After a perfect road trip home, we're already looking ahead to our next adventure!

The Big 3-0!!

2010-11-30T12:16:00.000-08:00

Here's the birthday boy enjoying his warm homemade apple-raspberry pie and cinnamon gelato!

For Thanksgiving dinner, it's our family tradition to have lobster instead of turkey. Doesn't that plate look divine?!

Well, it was!

The timing worked out great because his parents were already here visiting Annabelle, so they were able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Shanam's birthday, too!

For his gift, they bought Shanam a much needed, incredible new slant board to help straighten his back. The puppies love attacking him while he uses it :)

And as for my present, I've arranged a way for us to hike 30 state highpoints while he's 30. This poster will help us track and document when we do them. Stay tuned for more info about the highpoints! That's one of our new adventures coming up this year :)

But I'm pretty sure this little lady was his favorite gift this year :)

Sweet Annabelle

2010-10-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

Annabelle has arrived! Go to our baby blog at www.mapetiteannabelle.blogspot.com to read the birth story and see more pictures :)

The Year of the Triplets

2010-09-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

We didn't think having a baby was going to change our lives drastically enough, so we've added some more fun to the mix :) Heheh! Meet our new 7 week old Huskies!!

Sophie

and Sasha!

We got them on Monday this week, after getting back from our trip to Utah. One of our friends knew a family who was selling husky puppies and it was just too good to pass up! Shanam has always been in love with huskies and has wanted one since before we got married. It's the perfect mountain dog...says the mountain man himself :) And of course I think they are adorable, too! Not just adorable puppies, but they'll grow into gorgeous dogs. They are great with children and Annabelle will have immediate best friends when she gets here :) She'll be able to grow up with them and call them her own. After discussing it, we thought two sisters would be best and we were right! It's so fun to watch them together! And they really are just like babies...

They eat...

they play...

they chew...

they sleep...

and of course they like to have a little fun and get into mischief :)

Shanam hates leaving for work in the mornings and will come home at lunch to see them. They run to greet him at the door and his face just beams :) He's already a great dad, lol!

While we were still in Utah, a couple of days after we had decided to add to our family, we figured that our little beemer wasn't going to cut it for all the new adventures our growing family was going to have. So, last Friday night, we searched on KSL for a Toyota 4 Runner, found a couple we wanted to look at, made appointments the next day to see them, and had a '97 4 Runner within 24 hours. Everything just fell into place and worked out! So, we have our highway car and now our mountain vehicle to take our mountain family to the mountains...3 hours away.

We've gotta get out of Texas!

They'll be coming with us to Utah for Christmas and Shanam just can't wait to introduce them to the snow! We're already planning on a family snowshoe outing and Shanam wants to bring them skiing with him in the back country. Should be fun!

Big Bend Balloon Bash and Balmorhea!!

2010-09-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

Well, it was time to get away from Andrews again for some more adventure! This time we chose to explore down south a little into the Fort Davis Mountain area about 3 hours away. We loaded up our camping gear, grabbed a camera, and took off after church on Sunday for a lovely road trip :)

Our first event was the Big Bend Balloon Bash! Every Labor Day weekend, hot air ballooners from around Texas gather in the small town of Alpine, Texas. They take flight every morning and come back in the evening to perform what they call a Fire Concert. Boy, was that a fun experience! They all line up their baskets and wait til the sun goes down. Then the extravaganza begins! The pilots play their "fire" to rock and roll music! Check out the video!

We had almost front row seats, and I tell ya! When every flame went off at the same time, you felt the heat!!! So cool! After the concert, we drove about 10 miles out of town to check out what is called the Marfa Lights. These are lights that mysteriously appear off in the horizon next to the little town of Marfa. They don't always appear, but we were lucky enough to choose a good night, cuz they were good and bright...and very mysterious! Dodododododo :)

The next morning, after a beautiful night of camping under the stars, we went to go see the balloons take off. Unfortunately, it was too windy :( So, that just meant we got an early start on mountain biking and hiking! We drove up to Fort Davis State Park, after a little breakfast, and hit the trails. Shanam biked while I hiked and I actually ended up hiking the entire 4.2 miles up and over into the Fort Davis National Historic Site. The view was neat at the top of the mountain and the climb down through huge molten rock boulders was definitely a fun experience!

We decided to cool off a bit afterward by hitting up "The Caboose" for an ice cream treat :)

Then, our last stop as we made our way back up to Andrews was Balmorhea State Park. A gorgeous natural spring that has been made into a 2 acre swimming pool! It's the oasis of West Texas! The water was a cold 75 degrees and little fish swam around you the entire time. In some spots, it goes down 30 feet and people come to scuba dive and see the much cooler fish that live down there. About 1 million gallons of water is naturally fed in and out of the pool every hour! It's a pretty neat place and we will definitely be coming back with snorkeling gear!

We had such a nice weekend! We just love being able to get out and explore! And we look forward to the very near future when Annabelle can come on our adventures, too!

Telluride, CO!!!

2010-08-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

Telluride, CO has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the world! We were able to stay in a beautiful mountain cabin with 15 other friends for 5 days this last week and we loved every second of it! The weather was perfect, the air was clean and crisp, the landscape was breathtaking, and the memories we made with amazing people will last forever!

Here are a few pictures of the little shack we stayed in :) Not too shabby, eh?

In the evenings we had a blast playing games, doing puzzles, cooking dinner together, hot-tubbing during a meteor shower, watching the sunset, meditating and doing yoga on the porch, watching slide shows, and just plain enjoying each others company. And during the day, well, keep reading...cuz there was plenty of adventure!!!

Shanam had been researching and planning an off road trip through Black Bear Pass and was actually able to talk 3 other guys into doing it with him, one being his dad! Black Bear Pass is supposedly pretty crazy and hardly anyone ever attempts it, but of course that's only more encouragement for my man :) You can look it up on youtube if you want to see videos of people going down "the stairs" and "the deadly switchbacks." Only 7 groups have done it this season, so far, and now Shanam can proudly add his name to the list!

When they got back to town, it was Ellen's turn for an off road adventure! Shanam and his parents went back up the mountain and watched the sun set from Telluride Peak. The ride was going to be a little too rough and bumpy for me so I enjoyed the sunset from the back porch of our cabin with everyone else :) They were able to capture some beautiful pictures, though!

Isn't this one gorgeous?! You can see the moon with Mars and Venus above it and the town of Telluride below. Just beautiful! The stars at night were really incredible!

We found shirts for all the guys that went off-roading that said "I Survived Black Bear Pass." They all thought that was pretty cool especially since one of them didn't think they would ever make it off that mountain :)

So while Shanam had fun with his extreme adventures, I chose to take it easy :) This was at the top of one of our hikes by a beautiful waterfall. I could have laid there all day!

I just love this picture of Shanam's mom :)

This is part of the group at Hope Lake.

This is mountain man Philip. While I relaxed at the waterfall, he decided to strip down and go for a swim! Crazy guy!

Another day, while Shanam was mountain biking all over the 13,000 ft high mountain range, trying to kill himself, I chose what was supposed to be a short easy hike that turned into a 7 mile trek! Yes, you read right! At 7 months pregnant, I went on a 7 mile hike! It was beautiful, though!

Ellen and Tim used to live right where the cabin is that she's pointing to. How neat is that! At that time it was a little one-room schoolhouse that had no insulation. During the winter, it would be warmer outside in the sun than inside their house, so that's where they would shower! Her hair would freeze before she had time to dry it! I can't even imagine! It was great to hear all their stories!

We took several trips down into town on the gondolas. The view was just spectacular! Main Street was adorable and of course Shanam found an expo showing the latest electric car, the Tesla. I must say, it was pretty sweet!

And last but not least...our future home! We put an offer on it, but I don't think they'll take it :) j/k! Haha! One day, though, we'll be millionaires and have our dream home :)

What a difference a year makes!

2010-08-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

LOL! I was looking through our honeymoon pictures and found this one where I'm wearing the same cover-up as I'm wearing in our picture in Orlando, 6 1/2 months pregnant. Scroll down and look at the difference! Hehe :)

Orlando!!

2010-07-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

We were able to get away and escape for the weekend to Orlando! Yay! We met up with Shanam's parents and stayed at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. This is their awesome pool that we spent all Saturday afternoon in...hallelujah for being weightless :) My baby bump is definitely unmistakable now and I get so many comments from friends and strangers alike! I really love it :)

Cloudcroft!!

2010-07-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

It had been raining in Andrews all week long, so we were very worried that our 4th of July camping trip was going to get rained out, too! But, alas, on Friday we decided to chance it and packed up all our gear and headed out! Laura came with us this time and we all knew we were in for a crazy adventure!

As we got closer and closer to the mountains, though, the clouds lightened up, the sun came out, and a beautiful rainbow appeared! This was definitely a good sign! And we totally lucked out, because by the time we got to our camping spot, the rain was gone for good! Never to come back all weekend!
While Shanam hit the trails on his mountain bike the next morning, Laura and I decided to play some golf :) I had only been to the driving range a few times in my life and I've always been secretly afraid to actually play on the course. Silly, I know, but I did gather up my courage and grabbed the biggest club of hers I could find. That made me feel better :) After a few practice swings, trying to work around my pregnant belly, I actually hit the ball and it soared straight onto the green down the hill! I could do it! Come to find out, real golf is just like miniature golf, but bigger :) LOL! The morning was perfect golf weather and the course was breathtaking! Sitting at 9000 ft, Cloudcroft is the 5th highest course in the US! And of course, driving the golf cart through the mountain trails was almost just as fun as hitting the ball :) I hit a few sweet shots and one amazing shot that we all deemed was the most awesome shot that day. (We were teamed up with another couple) My first hit landed the ball close to the lake's edge, and I decided that instead of trying to go around the lake, I was going to go over it. As soon as I hit it, it shoots off and literally SKIMS the top of the water and lands on the other bank!!! We were all in shock! My daddy would be proud :)

This was our sweet camping spot! There's nothing like a huge campfire, a good book, an afternoon nap, tin foil dinners, s'mores, and card games that go on all night!

The next day, we hit the trails! Shanam took off on his bike while Laura and I enjoyed the hike and gorgeous views! In the same time it took us to hike 4 miles, Shanam biked 20 :) That's my man!

The view from the trail was amazing! We could see all of White Sands 5000 ft below!

And this was our view on the 4th of July! We drove up to the highest point and overlooked the entire Ruidoso valley, hoping to see some fireworks :) No fireworks, but we saw plenty of elk and deer! The ride home was quite the event! Whole herds of animals were lurking in the shadows! It made for a very slow and cautious drive, but so cool, nonetheless!

It's a GIRL!!

2010-06-28T14:09:00.001-07:00

Today was our very first ultrasound and it was, of course, an amazing experience! To be able to actually see our little one was so special and to see how active and healthy she is was so comforting :) I mean, I can always feel how active she is, but to know that she is kicking me with beautiful long legs and punching my bladder with perfect little fists, makes it that much more special :)

She had her hands up by her face throughout the whole ultrasound and looked so content nuzzling right into the side of my uterus. Isn't she just beautiful!
She finally uncovered herself a little bit so we could tell what she was and when the technician pointed to that spot and said, "Do you recognize what that is?" Shanam and I both answered, "um...no, not really." LOL. Like anyone but the tech could really tell! When she told us it was a little girl, we both just looked at each other, squeezed hands, and smiled big. As I looked back at the monitor, tears welled up in my eyes and I could barely see for a little while :) I really wanted it to be a little girl :) And Shanam is happy to have a little princess. But make no mistake...she WILL learn how to throw a ball and she WILL know how to ski! (Shanam's words exactly)

I loved looking at her long gorgeous legs!

And there she is, smiling sweetly, because of course, she is going to be a perfect little angel! Hehe :)

Fiesta Time!!

2010-06-24T08:10:00.001-07:00

Last weekend was filled with Mariachi Bands, fish tacos, and grilled corn! Sometimes I really enjoy living in Texas :) It was our friend Andrea's surprise birthday party and we had so much fun eating and dancing! Shanam spent all Sat afternoon helping set up, it looked awesome!

Can't tell too much that I'm prego here, but there was no question when I stood up! :)

Laura and I

I think he ate about 7 of these :)

Ever watch that show where professional cake decorators compete and when they're done making their masterpieces, the final test is to transport the cake to the table? That's what I felt I was watching here! :) They did it, though, no problemo.

White Sands National Monument!!

2010-06-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

This place is soooo neat!! We decided to come check it out while we were camping up in Cloudcroft this last weekend. It's located on the other side of the Sacramento mountain range, and we had never been before, so we took a little day trip and are so glad we did! This is the largest gypsum dune field in the world, covering 275 miles! And some dunes reach up to 60 ft tall! There are only a few plants and animals that survive here because the dunes are constantly changing and cover everything in it's path. The white sand is absolutely beautiful!

This is the road that takes you into the park. We felt like we were on another planet!

Kids come and slide down the dunes in saucers, but Shanam decided to have his own fun :) We'll definitely be back with our kids, though! That's for sure!
Speaking of kids, our ultrasound is coming up! Post your guesses before the 28th if you want to get in on the action :) And p.s. Shanam had a dream while we were camping that it was a girl. So now he's unsure on his prediction of "Jr." It'll be fun to find out!!!

Utah!!

2010-06-04T16:37:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a most wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating 10 day retreat to Utah. By retreat, I mean I kicked it at my house with my family...napping, eating, and laughing. I loved every minute :) Shanam came and joined me for Memorial weekend, skied a bit, and then brought me back to Texas. I could have stayed there for a month, except for the fact that I can't live without Shanam for that long :) So, here we are back in Texas. Don't worry though, we already have our next trip planned for next weekend...camping in our favorite little mountain village of Cloudcroft, NM!

As you can see, my belly is getting larger every day! I love it and Shanam can't stop touching it :) We're getting more and more excited to become parents, and we'll find out at the end of the month if we'll be parents to a little baby boy or girl!

While in Utah, I was able to see my big little brother graduate high school, my other big little brother turn 16, play Mexican Train, visit with both of my amazing grandma's, visit with Bre and her adorable twins, shop for more maternity clothes with mom, walk in the Thanksgiving Point Gardens and see baby owls, see the 3 Musketeers in Salt Lake City after eating at an amazing Italian Pizzeria with Shanam's parents, and went for a nice little hike up in American Fork Canyon. My brother also asked me to photograph him and some of his buddies that graduated with him and we had such a blast! Great trip all in all! Next time we see our family, we'll have a baby!

My bro is the handsome one in the middle

Home Birth Video

2010-05-20T11:45:00.001-07:00

The Homebirth of Lucia Mae from Sara Janssen on Vimeo.

I love the sweetness of this video!

Orlando!!

2010-05-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

I had two free tickets to Disney World left over from when I worked there 2 years ago, so I decided to invite my Texas bestie, Laura, to come with me as her birthday present! She was more than willing to come :) While in Orlando, I was able to reconnect with all my Florida friends!!! We all met up at Bahama Breeze, since that's my most favorite restaurant ever and had a GREAT time! My cheeks hurt so bad after that night from all the smiling and laughing! I love all of them so much, and it did me much good to see them again! We took this picture right before I spilled the beans that I was pregnant :) That was quite a joyous moment, one that I was so happy to experience in person with all of them! It's just not the same over the phone :)

The next day it was time to hit the parks! Laura and I had a fabulous time at Epcot, especially in my cherished greenhouses. My previous manager and forever friend, Les, was awesome enough to take out 2 hours of his day and take us backstage to see all the improvements!

This is the most recent addition! A beautiful water garden in my Tropics greenhouse! He has been working for years to get the installment of it approved and I think it is just marvelous! I loved seeing how things have changed but also stayed the same. I can't even express how happy it made me to be back there! I literally cried when I had to say goodbye to Les and the greenhouses. I blame it on the hormones :)

Here in Magic Kingdom we had a delicious dinner at Tony's and even got to see the parade go by while we were eating! No better seats than that! Our trip was filled with luck, just like that! From being in the right place at the right time for shows, hardly any wait in lines, getting handed two fast pass tickets from a complete stranger for a ride that was all out, seeing the animals at Animal Kingdom do things I had never seen them do! Every time something would happen we would look at my belly and thank the baby, we attributed all the luck to "him" :) We couldn't have asked for a better weekend! Thanks for the memories, Laura!

p.s. We got free ice cream sundaes for dessert, too. I'm telling ya, it was just a great trip!

Our newest adventure to come...

2010-05-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Well, actually, it's already been quite the adventure...but yes, we're having a baby! I'm 16 weeks along and have definitely enjoyed my fair share of the lovely "morning sickness." But we won't talk about that, because I'm done with it! Whether it's done with me or not, I've had enough :) We are both soooo excited and can't wait to have "Jr" with us. Shanam's positive it's a boy, but no, we're not naming "him" Shanam Jr. :) "He's" due November 1 and we are planning on doing a home birth with a midwife. We'll keep you updated on whether Shanam is right or not :)

Santa Fe!!

2010-05-15T10:09:00.001-07:00

For our one year anniversary I told Shanam to pick where we should go and surprise me :) I told him to do that for our honeymoon, too, and he definitely blew my expectations out of the water! So, when he told me that we were going to spend our anniversary camping, I was fine with it, but I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. I do love camping...just not in celebration of our one year together :) We had been wanting to go to Santa Fe for a while, so at least we were going to a cool, new place. And he did tell me that he had already booked an hour message at a spa for me, so I REALLY couldn't complain! We arrived, after our 6 hour road trip, just in time for my appointment. The spa was gorgeous and located in one of the best hotels in Santa Fe. My masseuse was actually telling me about all the famous people she had given messages to :) And I can't even begin to tell you how amazing the message was!! Shanam told me that he would go get things ready during that time, since it would be almost dark by the time I finished. Well, he did go get things ready...but he wasn't setting up any campsite! He was checking us into that same hotel, confirming our dinner reservations, and planning our trip with the concierge :) When he came back to pick me up, I was so relaxed and happy, that I just put my hand in his and followed his lead, not really understanding or caring that we were't going to the car but instead through the hallways into the restaurant. That was a welcome, happy, delicious surprise, but an even greater moment was when he led me up to our room. He walked me into our cozy suite with a beautifully lit fireplace, a big bouquet of roses, and a huge, fluffy king-size bed with the sheets already turned down. And you know what I did?! I started crying! Well, wouldn't you!!

Isn't that purple car so cute! Hotel Santa Fe is run by an Englishman who decided to bring over a few English taxicabs for the hotel. We never got to ride in it, but we did get a lift into town in the huge purple shuttle bus they called Barney :)

There is a surprising amount of French people and French culture in Santa Fe that I had no clue about, so when Shanam and I went to this highly recommended French Pastry Shop for breakfast the next day and I had one bite of my peach filled crepe, I thought I was literally back in France!! Never have I tasted a crepe like that except for on the streets of Paris! That almost made me cry, too :) The owner and the waitresses were French, so it was so much fun speaking with them and listening to them talk with each other. I didn't want to leave! And we weren't gone for long...after checking out a few city sites, we went back for lunch...French Onion Soup!!! I was in heaven!

One of the places we went to was the New Mexico History Museum where we learned all sorts of interesting facts about NM. Just before heading out, though, I saw these colored squares against a back wall, and for the heck of it, decided to get a closer look. Well, I'm glad I did, because the closer I got the clearer the FACES became! How cool is that! The squares were made out of a sort of hard ceramic and molded on the right edge, so that when the light shown a certain way, the faces would appear! Definitely one of the neatest pieces of art I have ever seen!

On our last day, we wanted to get up into the mountains for a little hike. As you can tell, when we started out, it was fine and by the end, it was like we were caught in a huge snow storm! We were laughing so hard because we could barely see as we headed back to our car! Lots of good memories, and once again, Shanam blew my expectations out of the water, and it wasn't just because he set them so low to begin with :) I. love. that. man. exclamation point.

Austin!!

2010-04-17T19:30:00.001-07:00

It was time for another trip with the gang! If you remember, last year we went to San Antonio and saw "Wicked." Well, this time we chose to visit Austin to see "The Phantom of the Opera." What an amazing trip! First of all, we drove through the hill country and all of the wildflowers were in bloom! My favorite of course was the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet. This was my first time seeing wild bluebonnets and they were absolutely gorgeous! It looked like carpets of blue all along the side of the road. They were everywhere, along with purple phlox, orange paintbrush, yellow daisies, and white poppies...to name just a few :) I was in heaven!

Before heading downtown we enjoyed the beautiful sunset while eating dinner at The Oasis. This restaurant is three stories high and can seat more than 2000 guests at one time! The view was breathtaking and the food was great. When the sun finally set over the water, the bells rung and the guests clapped :) It was quite the event!

For breakfast the next day we went to the famous hotel Driskill on 6th street. The pastries, which were my favorite part, were delightful :) The food was so good we decided to come back that night for dessert after the show.

Can you believe all these boots! And this was just the aisle that had my boot size!! I had been in Texas for almost a year and had never even tried on cowboy boots, so I decided that was the day to do it! It was hard to choose, but I bypassed the boots with the snake head on them and went for a tradition brown, instead :) I'll have to save up, though...they cost $300.00. Shanam chose his favorite and of course he chose the highest priced boots in the entire store without knowing it...$3000.00!

After shopping on South Congress Street and Guadalupe Street we beelined it over to the state capitol to take a look at where Shanam's future seat in the senator's office would be. (He loves politics and would love to someday make it to that position.)

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the hotel and get ready for dinner and the show! We ate at an amazing restaurant called Landers and enjoyed meeting up with an old friend of Andrea's. I ordered the most tender and moist fillet of Grouper over potato and leek soup. Sensational!

And here we are in the theatre! We got there a little early, hence the empty seats around us, but it gave us plenty of time to get into the spirit of the play. I tell ya, when those first chords were pounded on the organ, chills rushed through my whole body and tears ran down my cheeks! The first time I saw this play I was about 13 or 14 and I went with dad and grandma. I remember it being so overwhelming and beautiful! This time, it was both those things but with an added understanding. I felt the emotions of the characters and was completely enthralled in every line of every song!

We love the friends we've made in Andrews and can't wait for the next adventure!

Utah Ski Trip!!

2010-03-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

It finally came time for our week long ski trip!! Shanam had been looking forward to this trip for a whole year! His ski buddy got married on Sat, March 6 but the skiing began the Monday before. Luckily we were able to leave the weekend before it all started and spend some good ski time with family up in Park City. His parents and my dad and brother were able to come with us to hit up the slopes :)

On Sunday, our friend from Texas, Laura, came out to explore and have fun in the mountains with me while Shanam left with his buddies for the week. She had never been to Utah and had never seen huge snow-capped mountains!! Can you believe it! Our first stop, though, was Salt Lake City. You can't come to Utah and not see Temple Square!

The next day was her first day skiing!! She had a lot of fun and did great for her first time sliding down a snow-covered, icy mountain :)

Then it was off to meet up with the guys for a night in Jackson Hole. The drive was gorgeous and Laura was able to see two more states she had never been to!

We hijacked some snowmobiles from the guys and had some fun riding the trails just outside of Yellowstone.

Then we checked in to our cute little cabin and met the guys for Thai food and dessert pastries. I can honestly say, I've never been disappointed with the food in Jackson! There are so many delicious little restaurants!

I think it's safe to say that Laura enjoyed her stay :) And Shanam...well, after some intense muscle message and some trips to the hot tub, he was as good as new!

Valentine's Day Dinner

2010-02-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

We decided that for Valentine's Day, instead of going out to dinner at a fancy restaurant, we would bring the fancy restaurant...home :) Not only did we get to enjoy a gourmet meal but we enjoyed spending the 3 hours it took us to make it :)

There's my lovely Valentine, doing what he loves doing :)

To begin:

A lovely Spinach Salad with Glazed Pecans (that we harvested and shelled ourselves this last fall) with a sweet and tangy Pomegranate Red Wine Vinaigrette

and

Stuffed Mushrooms as an appetizer

To cleanse the pallet:

Creamy Mango Sorbet

(this is Shanam's specialty)

And now for the main course:

Seared Scallops over Wilted Spinach and Lemon Risotto with a side of Asparagus covered in creamy Bearnaise Sauce

And last but not least,

to add a little sweetness to the night...our dessert:

Dark Chocolate Mousse Ice Cream

(this is my specialty)

That was definitely a meal to remember :)

Murder Mystery!!

2010-02-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

Awe, how precious :)

Every year, the Friends of the Library in our little town of Andrews puts together a fundraiser for the summer arts program. The theme of the Mystery Dinner this year was Prom, so we got to dress up as if we were going to the prom! We got our pictures taken in the traditional prom pose in front of the ghetto backdrop and enjoyed a great four course meal during the performance.

This was our table of awesome friends! Andrea, the woman in the blue and only other blond haired woman at our table, was a main organizer of the event. There was a great turnout and about $2500 was raised! It was fun to try and guess who the murderer was, but none of us got it :( No $200 prize for us...it was tricky!!

She was one of the main actresses in the show and was an absolute hoot!

Natalie was also in the show and did a fabulous job! Shanam and I had so much fun, we can't wait to do it next year...that is, if we're still here :)

P.S. A few of you may recognize the "beautiful gown" I'm wearing. I've worn it on many occasions...I got it for $15 my freshman year of college...10 years ago! LOL. And it has come in handy! 3 college dances, Halloween twice, "Academy Awards" as Nicole Kidman, Mascarade Party, New Year's Eve Party and now a mystery dinner. Am I forgetting anything? The seams are coming loose and I found a stain on the front of it, but I just can't bare to let it go!

Baltimore!!

2010-01-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

This last weekend we headed out of town...yet again...for another adventure :) This time we made it all the way over to the east coast! We went out there for another Amway Conference and had such a great time exploring the city, eating seafood, and getting pumped up at the conference! We stayed at The Renaissance Hotel at the Inner Harbor. The rooms were very modern chic and the hotel was located right in the middle of everything. Perfect location! On Friday, we quickly put our bags in our room and headed out to grab a bite to eat. I wanted to eat real Maryland crab cakes and Shanam really wanted me to try raw oysters, so we found this amazing little restaurant with both! It was called Mo's and it was only a 10 minute walk from our hotel. It was recommended by everyone we asked, so it was bound to deliver! And it definitely did! The oysters were great...Shanam was disappointed that I didn't give him the reaction he was expecting, but proud that I actually liked them. And the crab cakes...oh the crab cakes!! I have never seen so much crab meat before in my life! They were packed full and soooo delicious! After our meal, we went to check out the famous Barnes & Noble. So cool! The store is inside an old revamped power plant, so you still see all the smoke stacks inside and outside the building. I loved it!

Then it was time for the conference!! Here are just a few pictures of the next two days. We heard from great leaders and met with so many awesome people from our group. Shanam had started this business when he was 18 and he has a very large group on the east coast, so it was fun seeing all of them and uniting together! I love seeing their success! If anyone wants to know more details about the business, let me know and I'd be happy to share! It's such a great organization to be a part of!

Snowshoeing by Moonlight

2010-01-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

Isn't this picture absolutely gorgeous!! Shanam did a great job capturing the feel of the evening. It was such a perfect night for snowshoeing! It was so bright that it hurt our eyes at times! We went with a couple good friends to Cloudcroft, NM for New Year's weekend. It was about a 3 mile hike through the woods, with no sound except for the crunching of the snow. So serene and magical! Not to mention romantic :)

Laura and I all set to go! She was so excited!

The first timers, Laura and Matt.

LOL! She had trouble stepping on herself and losing her balance. She was hilarious! You can't tell but she's laughing hysterically on the ground :) What a fun trip!

Happy happy New Year!

2010-01-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

We spent New Years Eve with some great friends eating lots of food and laughing the night away!

Here we are, ready to ring in 2010!

This is Eva. Eva the doll in white cowboy boots :)

Happy New Year!!

Snowshoeing in Utah!

2009-12-29T08:32:00.000-08:00

For our Christmas present to each other this year, we got snowshoes! We took them out for a spin on Christmas day and then again with family along the next day. So much fun!! It was absolutely gorgeous both days and it felt so surreal to be hiking through such beautiful snow covered trees! What a great treat! We plan on going to Cloudcroft, NM this week to do a little more! (In case you didn't know, click on the picture to view it larger!)

Campbell Christmas

2009-12-29T08:08:00.000-08:00

Can you guess what we all got for Christmas at the Campbell house?! You guessed it! Scarfs! I loved seeing the different ways we all chose to wear them :) Since my family's house is only five minutes from Shanam's, we had two Christmas mornings in a row! And what did we get from my family? A beautiful cast iron pot and "The World's Healthiest Foods" book!! Way way way exciting! My grandma was able to come from California to spend Christmas with us and that was a total treat seeing her! My family doesn't do a traditional Christmas dinner but we do a Christmas Taco Party a couple nights before Christmas every year and we flew in just in time! Gotta love Christmas Tacos with the WHOLE fam!!

Adventure Calls

Text Message

How I Met Love, Play Date, Part 2

How I Met Love, Play Date, Part 1

Text Message

How I Met Love, Wake Boarding

How I Met Love, Sunday with the Family, Part 2

How I Met Love, Sunday with the Family, Part 1

*Quick Thank You!*

Text Message

How I Met Love, Yoga

Text Message

Text Message

How I Met Love, Orlando Dance

How I Met Love, Text Message

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 4

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 3

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 2

How I Met Love, Sunrise Sunset, Part 1

How I Met Love, Breakfast Crepes

How I Met Love, Text Message

How I Met Love, Seasons 52, Part 2

How I Met Love, Seasons 52, Part 1

How I Met Love, Text Message

How I Met Love, Ice Cream, Part 2

How I Met Love, Ice Cream, Part 1

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 3

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 2

How I Met Love, Tampa Dance, Part 1

Let the Love Story Begin!

Christmas Letter 2011

Christmas 2011

Thanksgiving in Pagosa Springs!!

Great Barrington, MA!!

Lake Placid, NY!!

New York, NY!!

Labor Day Weekend in Ruidoso

Cloudcroft!

Florida!!!

Pagosa Springs, CO!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

Making Headway!

Sophie vs Sasha

Utah Travels!

Birthday Celebrations!

Camping with Annabelle and the Pups

Telluride & Durango, CO!!

Valentine's Day 2011

Man's Best Friend

Our New Years Letter!

Christmas Vacation!!

The Big 3-0!!

Sweet Annabelle

The Year of the Triplets

Big Bend Balloon Bash and Balmorhea!!

Telluride, CO!!!

What a difference a year makes!

Orlando!!

Cloudcroft!!

It's a GIRL!!

Fiesta Time!!

White Sands National Monument!!

Utah!!

Home Birth Video

Orlando!!

Our newest adventure to come...

Santa Fe!!

Austin!!

Utah Ski Trip!!

Valentine's Day Dinner

Murder Mystery!!

Baltimore!!

Snowshoeing by Moonlight

Happy happy New Year!

Snowshoeing in Utah!

Campbell Christmas

Quick Thank You!