Grandma and Grandpa Milne's 60th Anniversary

 Can you believe it?!  My grandparents celebrated 60 years together on Saturday.  60 years!! He was working at Hill Air Force Base and she was a secretary for one of the Generals, when she caught his eye.  And the rest is history.  (I mean look at that wedding photo. Both are babes.) They have a beautiful life together and I'm so grateful to be part of it.  I love these two people.  And you can tell that they love each other.

 They set up a bouncy house just for the great-grandkids.  Seriously who does that?  My grandparents are awesome.

I truly love these two.  My grandparents have a big influence on my life and memories of my childhood is filled to the brim with them.  They are incredible examples of love, honesty, joy, health, and service.  I am lucky to have learned so much for them.  Love you both.  xoxo Bryton

celebrating!

 We went out to eat on a weekday, which is big for our family, because I PASSED MY PROFESSIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING TEST!   I improved my Utah certification from Novice to Professional.  Hallelujah!  I worked so hard for this so we splurged with yummy food and sweet treats. And now a huge sigh of relief, cause sigh, that was a lot of work.  All done!

Where we've been all summer

At Seven Peaks of course!  Our summer has consisted of the wave pool, beach towels, and sunscreen.  We leave the house at 9 to get a close (free) parking spot at 9:30, play for a few hours, and then when the park gets too crowded, we pack up and leave by noon all in time to eat lunch in the car and then home for a nap.  Both of our naps. 

Did you know that my mom did this with my sisters and me when we were little?  We got Cherry Hill passes every summer.  And almost everyday we played at the water park at Cherry Hill.  Those are some of my favorite childhood memories.  So I'd to think I'm doing the same with Myer.  And I'm trying to get in as much Mom and Myer time before baby gets here.  It's been so fun.  I'm sure there's lots to be done around our new little place, but the heck with it.  We are playing this summer!  Just me and my boy.  Some good memories are being made.  Thanks Mom for the inspiration.

weekend run down

*got Jake's Father's Day present

*made cookies out of a box of cake mix

*had ourselves a BBQ inside since we ran out of propane

*attended Becky's beautiful reception

*redeemed my Mother's Day coupon for a pedicure

*took a family hike to see the poppies up Lambert Park

*Jake is already wearing his Father's Day present through great persuasion (and a great foot rub)

*and took a big pile of stuff to DI

Great weekend.  And a great way to start of summer.  What's your list?

We're just full of GOOD NEWS over here!

JAKE IS A WORKING MAN!

Last Tuesday Jake got a job and accepted it!  We are THRILLED beyond words because it's all working out!  So here comes the other half of the news, I will not be returning to AF high school next year.  I will finally get to be a stay at home mommy that I so missed these past 9 months.  It was a hard decision but this is what's best for our family and ultimately what I want as a mom.  It was devastating telling my students, my department, and principal.  Lots of tears for sure.  I honestly saw myself there for years to come, but obviously for this time in my life, it's not right.

I don't think that this baby's due date in September is a coincidence; it was an answer to prayers of some sorts.  It was a complete surprise but I instantly knew, as soon as I saw those two positive lines what this meant for Jake.  He was going to get a job so I could stay home with my two kids whether that be this coming fall or later.  We found out in January we were pregnant, and I had to wait until last week to finally see it all come to fruition.  Talk about a test of faith.  

But I am also lucky that it didn't happen until last week because as we are now scrambling for a babysitter for Myer, I don't think I could have done it any sooner.  Myer will just have a babysitter, half days, for the next 6 weeks.  I can deal with that.  I think he can handle that. (P.S. thank you for all the offers and help and recommendations for a babysitter.  I think we found a great one!)

I am so lucky to know that I have a God in heaven that makes things happen at the right times even when we want things to happen according to our time.  I know that I am lucky to have husband whose patience as a stay at home dad never wore out, and lasted as much as we needed it.  It makes me cry knowing what Jake had to go through for a year just so I could be in a job where I needed to be for this year.  I met some amazing students that I knew I was supposed to meet.  I feel that is why Jake got let go in the first place--to put me at AF high and meet who I was meant to meet.  But those are just thought for now, I'm sure we'll have more understanding to why things happened the way they did later, but this is what I feel to be true.

Goodness, I can't believe all that is waiting for us this summer--new job, hopefully a new place, and a baby.  Breathing out a huge sigh of relief but also breathing all that back in cause here we go!

Windansea Beach

Right below our hotel, and little walk around darling beach houses, is this little beach called Windansea Beach.  It was only a small strip of beach as cliffs bookend the sides so we felt like we had our own private beach.  It was beautiful.  We walked down to this beach as often as we could.  The wind, the smell, and sand was relaxing and just a vacation.  We were spoiled to have such a pretty beach so close.  We took advantage!  Heck yes.

Myer opened his last present: BIG NEWS!

and we're THRILLED!

jeepin in the hills

The weather's been nothing but gorgeous the past few days we so took to the outdoors.  Luckily we live in the most beautiful place with things to do just right up the street, so we went jeeping at Lambert Park.  

It was muddy and wet from all the melting snow, but that just makes for fun, right?  This is Myer's favorite thing to do--jeeping.  He squeals and laughs with each bump that it is undeniable he is a Morse.  We couldn't get this kid out of the jeep when we were done.  I think Jake's pretty proud.

stepping into 2013

I hope my Christmas candy will last me more than just a week.

I hope I can visit my sister in Minnesota this year.

I hope to start potty training Myer.

I hope there won't be any major construction projects for the state of Utah.

I hope this year Jake gets a job that he just loves.

I hope I can finish my year at AF high school.

I hope our dear friend, Devin Dayley, can come home from hospital.

I hope for snow just in the mountains, not in the valley.

I hope for a good year, not a better year because this year was memorable.  

I don't think we've been stronger, more loving, or happy.  I'm not really sure how you could get a better year than 2012. (Ok, a job for Jake would top the cake) But I am thankful for what happened to us and this year will go down as one of our best.  So we'll step in 2013 and see what it has in store for us.  Here we go...

parkees

Also during our weekend, we ventured to a new park.  It's starting to cool off around here, and we wanted to play somewhere without loading on the sunscreen.  So we scoped out the park scene.

Having Myer swing in a baby swing really threw me off when I saw him running around the park, exploring, sliding, and deciding what he wants to do next.  When did that happen??  Not to mention his new obsession with hats (notice previous posts) makes him look even older.  We are coming up on the 18 month mark.  Yikes.  He's permanently in that baby swing if it's the last thing I do.

a great week in the form of a list:

1. Myer's four teeth finally broke through.
2. Got an unexpected, but great, phone call for Jake.
3. Watched the Opening Ceremonies with my little family on the couch.
4. The person ahead of me in the check-out line paid for my groceries.
5. First experience crying in the grocery store.
6. Got two DVD's in the mail instead of just one.
7. Spent a morning in Park City.
8. Caught up with out of town friends.
9. Made some amazing easy Pad Thai.
10. And played in the crib with M.

One of my favorite weeks so far.  And it's nice to know that good people are still out there.  Feeling especially blessed and happy.  I hope your week produced a top ten too.

xoxo,

bryton

Jessie Ann (soon-to-be) James

 next weekend my little sister is getting married.

crazy.

so of course that brings on all the fun festivities: 

showers (above pic), luncheons, pictures, and of course the actual wedding.

but an added bonus: this will be the first time that i'll have all my siblings at home since last summer.

and I get to finally hold my new niece and introduce Myer to his cousins.

but we especially can't wait to see Jessie get married to her sweat-heart 

and welcome in another brother-in-law.

so...

let's party harty all next week.

family is so great.

remember this shirt?

 

It's a little more snug now...as it should since I have a month and a half left. Wow.

I've been enjoying every month, week, and day of this pregnancy.  Hopefully I haven't complained too much because we have wanted this from the very beginning.  Quite honestly, Jake and I were in the middle of doctor appointments and were just newly pregnant without even knowing it.  Truly a miracle for us. We have friends who are in the same boat as we were and we think, how can this be?  All I know is that it all works out according to each little family.  I truly believe this baby is coming when he is supposed to no matter how much we wanted him to come earlier. Life works out. In weird and unplanned ways certainly, but after looking back, we wouldn't want it any other way. Silly us.

And we are truly loving the whole experience--the bad--multiple bathroom trips, violent leg cramps, hysterical outbursts, purple hair (hormones...) and the good-- setting up the crib together, black and white ultrasound pics, his little heel against my right rib, texting possible names back and forth daily, and becoming a little family.

So dear little Mr. Morse- mom and dad are more than thrilled you are coming and are humbled to be your parents.  We hope we can do as good as job as the parents who sent you here. Until then, we are anxiously awaiting your arrival.  Just a few more weeks...Again, wow.

our thanksgiving

we spent our Thanksgiving with Jake's family this year at his aunt's house.  and everything was homemade--the food and decorations. it was delicious and i ate all of it. huzzah! but, holy cow, i would fill up so fast.  i had to eat in shifts. (i was eating my pie when everyone was cleaning up...)

but before we left we had to document the belly status: 23 weeks!!

this year we have so much to be thankful for.  (now, don't gag but here comes the list) i'm grateful for my Savior, my Heavenly Father, Jake, our families, the cottage, my education, my two jobs, Jake's job, our friends, good health, our freedom, two cars that start, and a baby on the way!

it's a good life and i am grateful to be sharing it with this man.  sometimes we look at each other like we are back in high school and laugh: are we really married? do we really run a household?  are we really going to be parents? sometimes i feel like we are playing house and too young to be adults but i wouldn't want it any other way.  so grateful this year for all that we have. 

happy thanksgiving!

BIG NEWS!!!

CAN'T WAIT!!!