Saturday, December 27, 2008

Five Amazing Years!










This past week on the 27th Mario and I celebrated five years of marriage. We decided that getting married was hands down the best decision either of us has ever made. It's hard to believe that we have come so far since meeting 5 1/2 years ago. We have built a wonderful life together with 2 little boys and lots of love. Mario is a wonderful husband who works very hard and always puts his family first.

The day started off with gorgeous long stem red roses from Mario. Those were our wedding flower so it was really sweet. Mario had to work all day so I got to play with my family who are visiting. We went shopping so I got a new dress and shoes to wear out to dinner. After Mario got home from work he took me out to dinner while my parents watched the boys. We went out to Mt. Ashland and ate at Callahan's. It is now my absolute favorite restaurant! It is a log cabin resort buried in piles of fresh snow. The restaurant is surrounded with windows to watch the snow fall and our table was right in front of a roaring fire. There was even a very talented guitarist playing love songs. It was very romantic and the only word for it is magical. Plus we figured that since the 5th anniversary is supposed to be wood, eating dinner in the woods would count. My gift however was much better than wood! Mario gave me gorgeous pearl earrings to match the necklace my parents gave me to be married in. I absolutely love them! I gave Mario a white gold tie clip, which he really liked. After dinner we came home and had cake with my parents and siblings.


This is the back of the lodge. Imagine it covered in fresh snow. It was so nice!


The evening was amazing with the beautiful fresh snow, delicious food, jewelry, and of course Mario. I have been so blessed with a wonderful husband that I get to spend eternity with! Only now I told him that if he made our five year so special he better start planning already for our 10 year!






Our first anniversary was spent in Ecuador. This picture is actually Christmas Day on the beach (2 days before our anniversary).









Our second anniversary we had just graduated from school a couple weeks before and had just moved to Washington. This is in Seattle with our friends Jeff and Lauren and Mario's mom and sister. Adam was just a few months old.












Our third anniversary was in 2006 and we had just moved to Medford, Oregon. We went to Washington for Christmas and I think that Mario had to come back early to work so we weren't together on our anniversary. This picture is from Christmas and I love it because Mario kept trying to tickle me during this picture.








Our 4th Anniversary we were in our new house here in Central Point. We both had work that day so I think we just went out to dinner. I was also pregnant with Tyler and pretty sick, but look how big Adam had grown!


Five years later we are a family of four and couldn't be happier!


Everyone has grown so much in five years! Thanks for all your love and support. We have the best friends and family a couple could ask for.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas to All!



There are so many friends and family who are far away today. We love you all and miss you so much! Have a Merry Christmas and know that our hearts are with you. Remember today not only the birth of our Savior but his life.

Love,

Mario, Linda, Adam, and Tyler

Friday, December 19, 2008

100 Books in a Year

I did it! 12 months of reading and I have met my goal of 100 books! I still have almost 2 weeks left so I'm sure it will come to a little over 100 books. I have found that if I set my mind to it I can accomplish any New Years goal. Like when I was younger I went a year without soda or chocolate. I've also done a year without french fries. My favorites have been keeping a journal everyday and reading my scriptures everyday. So here is my list of books. I mostly read in the evenings after the kids went to bed and while nursing Tyler during the night. I also kept a book in my purse all the time in case I am waiting in line for gas or sitting at the park with Adam, etc. I used a rating system where one star means I didn't like it and 5 stars means it is amazing.

1. Twilight, Stephenie Meyer ****
2. New Moon, Stephenie Meyer ***
3. Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer ****
4. The Red Tent, Anita Diamant ****
5. The Christmas Box, Richard Paul Evans ****
6. Shopaholic and Sister, Sophie Kinsella ****
7. Shopaholic and Baby, Sophie Kinsella ****
8. Fire of the Covenant, Gerald N. Lund *****
9. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho ***
10. The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd ****
11. Brighten the Corner Where You Are, Fred Chappell ****
12. Stacey and the Mystery at the Mall (BSC), Ann M. Martin ***
13. Gathering Blue, Lois Lowry ****
14. Messenger, Lois Lowry ****
15. The Templar Legacy, Steve Berry **
16. Hearts in Atlantis, Stephen King **
17. The Summons, John Grisham ****
18. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett ****
19. The Mermaid Chair, Sue Monk Kidd **
20. Matilda, Roald Dahl *****
21. I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You, Ally Carter ***
22. Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen **
23. Maniac Magee, Jerry Spinelli ***
24. Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbitt ***
25. Final Approach, John J. Nance **
26. Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens ****
27. Danny the Champion of the World, Roald Dahl ****
28. The Covenant, Beverly Lewis ***
29. A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L’Engle ***
30. Can You Keep a Secret?, Sophie Kinsella ***
31. Kate’s Choice, Louisa May Alcott ****
32. Shop Till You Drop, Elaine Viets ***
33. Shoes to Die For, Laura Levine ***
34. The Betrayal, Beverly Lewis ***
35. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis ****
36. The Magician’s Nephew, C.S. Lewis ****
37. The Horse and His Boy, C.S. Lewis ****
38. Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis ****
39. The Undomestic Goddess, Sophie Kinsella ****
40. Humor for a Woman’s Heart, Various ***
41. The Prodigal, Beverly Lewis ****
42. The Revelation, Beverly Lewis ****
43. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis ****
44. The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis ****
45. The Silver Chair, C.S. Lewis ****
46. Gucci Gucci Coo, Sue Margolis ***
47. The Answer is yes: A Novel, Sara Lewis ***
48. Second Draft of My Life: A Novel, Sara Lewis ****
49. Society Girls: A Novel, Sarah Mason **
50. The Silence of John, D.S. Lliteras *
51. The Silent Boy, Lois Lowry ***
52. Number the Stars, Lois Lowry *****
53. Remember me?, Sophie Kinsella ****
54. When We Get There, Shauna Seliy **
55. Eat Well, Lose Weight While Breastfeeding, Eileen Behan ***
56. What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Heidi Murkoff ***
57. The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, Sheila Kitzinger ***
58. Names My Sisters Call Me, Megan Crane **
59. Breaking Dawn,Stephenie Meyer *****
60. The Potluck Club, Linda Evans Shepherd ***
61. The Ex-Debutante, Linda Francis Lee ***
62. Digital Fortress, Dan Brown ****
63. The Christmas Train, David Baldacci ***
64. Certain Girls, Jennifer Weiner **
65. The Host, Stephenie Meyer ****
66. Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder ***
67. Heiress for Hire, Erin McCarthy ***
68. Three Days: A Mother’s Story, Melody Carlson **
69. Empire, Orson Scott Card ***
70. The Diary of Ma Yan, Ma Yan ****
71. Sweet Home Alabama, Paige Winship Dooly **
72. The Prince and the Pauper, Mark Twain ****
73. Questions To Ask Before Marrying, Melissa Senate ***
74. Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Jules Verne ****
75. You Could Do Better, Stephanie Lehmann **
76. The Christmas Candle, Max Lucado ***
77. The Shunning, Beverly Lewis **
78. The Confession, Beverly Lewis **
79. The Reckoning, Beverly Lewis **
80. Around the World in 80 Days, Jules Verne **
81. How to Behave So Your Children Will, Too!, Sal Severe ****
82. A Mother’s Gift, Britney Spears **
83. The Red Suit Diaries, Ed Butchart ****
84. The Get Rich Quick Club, Dan Gutman ***
85. Gossamer, Lois Lowry ***
86. Pure Drivel, Steve Martin *
87. The Pearl of Great Price *****
88. The Christmas Scrapbook, Philip Gulley ***
89. Life of Pi, Yann Martel ****
90. Amazing Peace, Maya Angelou ***
91. Skipping Christmas, John Grisham ***
92. Princess Academy, Shannon Hale ****
93. Pink Jinx, Sandra Hill **
94. Belle in the Big Apple, Brooke Parkhurst **
95. Grace, Richard Paul Evans ****
96. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, J.K. Rowling ***
97. I Heart Bloomberg, Melody Carlson **
98. Because of Winn Dixie, Kate DiCamillo ***
99. Letters to Malcolm: Cheifly of Prayer, C.S. Lewis ****
100. The Purpose of Christmas, Rick Warren *


Now what should I do in 2009?

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Ornament Exchange AKA Partay!

I decided this year to have a party for Christmas. Last week I invited a bunch of friends over for an ornament exchange. It was so much fun to have an evening with just the girls. We ate lots and everyone went home with a different ornament than they brought. It really helped me get into the holiday spirit. I also realized just how many wonderful friends I have! These women are AMAZING! I feel blessed to be surrounded by so many awesome people. The only hard part about the party was that I wanted to invite tons of people, but due to the size of my house I couldn't invite everyone. I think this may become a yearly tradition!
















Friday, December 12, 2008

Tyler's First Food!




A couple weeks ago Tyler had his four month check up. I can't find the paper with the exact measurments but he is almost 13 lbs. which puts him in the 10th percentile for weight and then he is in the 25th for height. So tall and skinny?!?! That so does not go with our family genes....lol!

The doctor said that he is ready to start rice cereal whenever we are ready. We have only given it to him once because I don't think any actually got in his tummy. He still thrusts his tongue out when we try to feed him. When I put the spoon up to his mouth for the first time he literally attacked it! He lunged for it with his mouth. It was pretty cute. It's been a couple weeks so I need to try again and see if he actually gets some in his tummy. He won't take a bottle so if I could get him to eat rice cereal I can be gone for more than 3 hours and leave him with Mario or a babysitter!

Monday, December 1, 2008

Family Photos

Today we braved the fridged Oregon weather and had our family pictures taken! My good friend Janice Jones is a professional photographer and did a great job. Check out her website at jmjstudios.com! We did the shoot in Jacksonville, which is a historical little town close to our house. You can check out the pictures here: http://www.jmjstudios.com/client/aguirre

Thanks Janice!