I've got a pocket full of sunshine..

Saturday was such a beautiful day in VA and the weather must have been at least 77 degrees! Quite frankly, I'll take anything with a bit of sunshine considering that lately all we've had were cloudy days and rainstorms. Not fun! So as soon as the sun was peeking we made plans to go have a picnic at Panther Falls with some friends and just get some tanning time in there. Even though I love tanning and getting really "crispy" in the summer I put on a bunch of sunblock on myself and Tyler. I always tease him because he gets sun-burnt so quickly. I think it's cute but he hates it. Especially when I mention anything about it to him. I'll stop. Eventually I will {promise}!!
I've only been to Panther Falls once before, and although its refreshing and has a nice view, I'm set with this being our last trip down there. The problem is that well A) the road is awful to drive on and it takes about 10 minutes from the " turn entrance" to get to the parking area. B) It takes another 5-10 minutes to get to the swimming area because you have to jump over logs, step over rocks, duck your head under fallen trees, and worse..avoid the poison ivy. (I didn't realize there was so many on the path). Glad the boys kept pointing it out whenever any of us seemed to get too close. C.) The water is kind of dangerous to swim in because of all the rocks. I'll stop at C because I sound like I'm complaining, when in fact I had such a good time! I'm just sure that I won't be making the effort with a bigger belly, or a baby. No thanks!

Isn't it gorgeous though?
Hmm. I love sunwatertanningsummerfunfriends! And I love that summer is around the corner and I get it all! We brought some snacks and played some card games. The boys play poker Monday nights, but honestly any time they get a chance to play they will. So we played with our treats. A cookie was worth 100, the grapes were worth 30, and the Doritos were worth 15. Guess who beat all the boys and won????

Me. Me. ME!!! I kind of blocked it in the picture but I had a nice pile. I think I only beat Katie by a few grapes and cookies. The boys better watch out or we're going to take over their boys poker night and dominate!

     I love this guy! What a cutie pa-tutie!

      & I love these girls. They're the best!

I'm starting to show a little. I'm not in love with the bump, but loving the idea of the little bean inside!

Just as the boys were debating jumping in the water, we spotted a snake. How scary! We left shortly after, but we all had a good time!

See the good in all things.

I've been thinking a lot lately on how each one of us go through life's bumps on the road. I kept being reminded to look toward that light hidden at the end of the tunnel over and over again this past month. What stuck with me mostly though, happened about 2 weeks ago. Tyler and I had just received a letter denying us for medicaid. I knew it was out of my control bubble, and that we had tried but boy was it hard to grasp at that moment. For a while all I could think to do was cry. So I just sobbed. I felt like such a bad mother already for not being able to provide something so simple as health insurance for our baby. The instant that I had managed to stop all the crying, Tyler hugged me and told me to get ready. We ended up driving to Target since I had a gift-card that my wonderful sister in-law, Tasha, had sent us for maternity clothes. As we walked around Target, I continued to feel guilty to be even considering shopping for clothes while I still hadn't figured out a plan for insurance. So instead we walked around the home section. That's when I saw this picture:

Tyler actually spotted it first, and then he called me back to see it. For a minute I just stood there and thought "hmm that's cool it's like that chart the Dr. has been testing you with over the past feel months for your eye."  I guess goes to show you just how blind I've been to truly SEEING THE GOOD IN ALL THINGS. Who am I to complain about anything in life? I have a home, a wonderful husband, a baby on the way, and things are good. It was indeed humbling to see that sign. I wish I could say we purchased it, but it didn't have a price tag, and after I dragged the darn thing all the way to the price checker, it wouldn't scan the bar code. I looked online to see about buying one, but no luck. I think that it was there just that day and at that store just so that I could learn a lesson. To always see the good in all things. After all my blog is titled "Come what may & love it" It doesn't just apply for when life is sweet, but when it gets really sour too.. The title is inspired by one of my favorite talks given by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin from the October 2008 General Conference of our church. You can read it here. I strongly encourage you to read it I just love it so much! I feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing organization, with leaders who guide me each way possible. I am so grateful for my husband being able to not only see but point out to me all the good things life has to offer,  no matter how small that thing may be. I am grateful for the power of prayer, and for a Heavenly father who loves me. I am especially grateful for this picture, although a bit gray and lacking high quality, it has a special meaning to me. I will forever remember that day.

Tyler here, just thought I'd say a few things cuz I want my family to remember me out here in va. I'm that guy thats married to your favorite daughter-in-law. I just wanted to add that after we searched out a price scanner with this massive eye chart, Debbie decided that God wanted us to get the message, but not buy it and bring it home since we were so worried about being poor for the previous couple of days. Also, we did find an insurance that will waive the "pre-existing condition" that is due in Nov. as long as we show them that we had other insurance, so we're pretty sure we're in the clear there. Debbie has been hard at work making headbands and necklaces and all kinds of stuff with her new-found crocheting skills, and when I laughed that she had brought it to my doctors appointment, she just smiled and said that she would be a happy old lady. Well, I better say now that I'm going to be a happy old man married to this one.

Late Cinco De Mayo

I attempted at making us some mustaches. { Nina, me, Katie}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 For Cinco de mayo we had some friends come over to play some games and just celebrate the holiday together. Tyler kept teasing me all day as I prepared things because none of us are remotely Mexican, but hey any excuse for good food and fun is worth it to me. Those mustaches took me forever to make. I got this tutorial online, but the lady didn't have the template so I had to eyeball them. Luckily they ended up looking like mustaches and not weird clouds.

Los "Hyats"

Los "Crists"

Los McCurdy's

We put the mustaches to good use... Some of us even used it as a unibrow..

We had so much food it was crazy. I made from the top : Chicken taquitos (I'll post the recipe later), Our Mexican flag [Edamame, string cheese, and red bell peppers], The cutest sombrero sugar cookies I have ever seen, and dips Guacamole in the green pepper and Salsa in the tomato. Nina brought us some tortilla chips for dips. Katie also made a delicious frozen Margarita cake, but we don't have pictures of it cause it was melting.

I wanted to make a pinata, because buying one and candy was too pricey. So Katie crafty and talented as she is made us a "Pin the tail on the donkey" Isn't her donkey the cutest? I'm far from artistic so I'm glad she got this task under control. Her flag and "Pin me amigos" was just amazing. 

Tyler only had to be blind folded in one eye. Aren't we mean?

Me thinking I had it right on the money...

And figuring out that we were all pretty close. It was a good night and we for sure shared a few laughs. I love game nights!

All because two people fell in love..

Yesterday Tyler and I had our first year anniversary. I can't believe it's been a year, and only a year! It feels like we've been together our whole lives. May 15, 2010 was a beautiful day and I am so grateful for the family and friends that were able to share our moment of happiness with us. It was such a crazy day, and it went by so fast, luckily we got to soak it all in during our second reception in Idaho. Uncle Terry & Aunt Judy were nice enough to let us use their house to invite those that weren't able to attend the Boston ceremony. (These pictures are from that second reception, that's why my dress is wrinkly and my hair is a mess) 

I get to be a part of this gorgeous McCurdy/ Hawkes family. And that's not even all of them. We're missing Brianne, Drew, & Kylee.

These cupcakes were delicious!

Everything was so pretty.

Mom & I.

I get to have the silliest/ FUNNEST sister in laws.

I get the Bro in law who makes us promise we'll admit it if we have end up having ugly babies.

 All in all I get to be the wife of my one and only other half. I get to be married to my best friend, and share a life with him. This past year has definitely been a roller coaster ride, but with all of our crazy up and downs twists and turns. I wouldn't change a thing. We survived BECAUSE we have each other. We survived because we got sealed in the temple for time and eternity. We got through the curve balls of this past year  because we had the support of these wonderful people.

Dad & Wendy who always seem to be in the right place at the right time with us. 

 

Mom & Chad who always check in on us, and put up with 2 more kids during the holidays..

& My parents who are so helpful.

I. LOVE. YOU.

For time and Eternity and not a minute sooner.

I'm blessed to be given all that I have. I simply couldn't have asked for a better eternal companion.

Farewell

Kathy & I

This week my friend Kathie graduated from SVU! Her adorable family came from Bolivia to see her big day and be apart of it with her. They stayed at my mom's house while they visited, and on Tuesday we had a good bye party for her. Over the years Kathie has been an amazing friend. She's a social butterfly in every sense and worries about everyone's feelings. I was so lucky to come across her at school and become such close friends with her. We've had some amazing memories, and some much needed discussions about boys. Kathie was literally the only friend I had at SVU who supported Tyler and I when we started dating. She was so supportive and understanding of everything and gave me some much needed advice to just follow my heart. She didn't think we were crazy for getting engaged in 3 months, and never had a judging thought over us. I can't express how much I appreciated your sincerity. I will never forget you my friend. You mean the world to us, and I hope that you will continue to shine wherever you go. You're fantastic and little BV will for sure miss your smile around here.

*Celeste, Tatiana, Kathie, Me, & Kathie's mamita*

I am so grateful for true friendships and cameras that capture the moments that would otherwise go unwritten.

Game night and headbands

Tyler usually has guys night on Monday's but last night we all decided to have a combined game night. So four of our good friends came over and we had snacks and 'scene it' going on the X box. The scene it was a little hard for me since it had lots of movies I've never even heard of. Luckily it was boys vs. girls and Ms. Nina is amazing and dominated our girls team! Thank goodness I was on her team, there was no way I would have lasted alone. The boys then started watching a basketball game while us girls did some crocheting. We felt ancient crocheting, I mean we're in our 20's and crocheting on a Monday night? How boring.. But wait until you guys see what we made! A few months ago my friend Katie and I found this adorable blog with tutorials for head bands. After buying our supplies, we still couldn't figure out how to assemble it. Katie is a genius and had her talented mom teach her, so yesterday she passed on her knowledge to Nina & I. I have yet to finish my flowers (it's the trickiest part), but I made another one from the blog and am in love with it! I want one in every color, that's how obsessed I've become. Who knew crocheting could be so relaxing? Here's the tutorial for knotted headband I made this morning all by my self!! It took me like 30 minutes to do, which is awesome because now when I watch Tv, you can bet I'll be crocheting! Here's a picture of how mine turned out. Sorry it's blurry.

I love the color of this yarn. The picture doesn't give it justice, but trust me it's gorgeous.

Honestly if I can do it, anybody can do it. It really isn't that hard, but I am so grateful for tutorials that show you step by step what to do.  & of course Katie for having her mom teach her, passing it on to us, and having the patience with us.

Breakfast in bed

Every Monday morning at exactly 8am our neighbor who mows our lawn knocks on our door, very loudly may I add. Our landlord's who own the house and previously lived here have had this same neighbor mow for them since they moved in. So we had to keep him around, even though I think we pay him way too much and the fact that we have a lawn mowing machine in the backyard makes me think maybe I could just do it myself... Well this morning I wasn't able to wake up like I usually do before 8. My body was just aching all over, so instead Tyler woke up and took out the trash, and started breakfast. Isn't he sweet? He made eggs, sausages, and toast and brought it to bed. I wish the rest of the story were as sweet as Tyler's intentions. Unfortunately the smell of those sausage and eggs made my stomach turn, and the whole house had breakfast stink. I felt so guilty not being able to eat his carefully prepared meal for baby and I. Every gulp of my cereal I opted for me made feel even guiltier. I decided to clean the house as best as I could to try to get the smell out of the house. I just can't wait for this trimester to be over so that I could enjoy food again, and get breakfast in bed!! How lucky am I? I'm so amazed by Tyler's kindness each day as we move on through the pregnancy and his worries about mine and babies health. I know I write it often on the blog, but maybe I just don't say it often enough out loud to him.  How I truly fall in  love with my husband more each day, and how I am so blessed to have him in my life. ;)

Time to play catch up

I haven't been slacking, I've just been dealing with finals week and last minute papers so I'm technically excused. Hopefully? Well, I definitely do have a lot of catching up to do. What better way than for a slight blog transformation? One of my favorite blogs to read is our friend's Holly and Matt's blog. They just recently had a gorgeous baby girl and Holly is just super mom. Click here  to see her latest creations. She just gave her blog a little makeover, and while I still can't figure out how she got the tabs on her page, I'll work on that this week. Back to catching up on news.. For starters, Tyler and I are expecting our first baby! I'm at 13 weeks right now and due November 19th. I'll try to take some pictures and update the blog with news as we go along, but for the meantime we are very excited to become parents. There are so many wonderful pregnant ladies around me that it just makes me feel blessed to be able to experience all of this too.
  This week I've been an emotional roller coaster, but I'm trying to take every bit of life's challenges and love it. After-all, that's the inspiration behind the come what may & love it blog title right? Maybe it's all the crazy pregnancy hormones, I just can't put a finger on what is bothering me. I was wishfully planning a bus trip to Boston for us sometime during the next upcoming weeks, maybe I just need a break from teeny ol' BV. Plus I would love to go to the Boston temple again. I know my opinion is bias but man, that temple has so much meaning to me. Plus a trip to Boston also means a trip to the wonderful brazilian store where I can stock up on my favorite foods and bring them back home with me.
This past week was my sister Patricia's birthday, her husband Manny's in the beginning of the month, and my niece Larissa turned 11 yesterday. They're 3 out of 4 in their family with April birthdays. My other niece Julie is a December baby like me and I think she likes it that way. Only having to share your month with one person beats having to share it with 3. Then again we have to compete with Christmas. My sister sent me some pictures of them and I could not believe how old Ms. Larissa is getting. Especially the fact that she will be in young Women's next year boggles me. Time goes by way too fast.

 

Our nieces Larissa & Julie

And this is a picture of the 3rd delicious cake they had this month to celebrate all the parties, and family.My mouth waters every time I see it. My sister said this one wasn't the best, but I can't even find it in me to believe her. Look at it, how could it be anything less than YUM? I love my family, and sure wish they all lived closer. I am so grateful for technology allowing me to talk to them as often as we like. I'm also grateful for Tyler's patience with my emotions this week, I doubt it was easy dealing with a cranky/stressed out me. I most certainly married up. :)