Just a Football Game....

You know what I love about the BYU-Utah football rivalry? I love how both teams want to win so badly. I love teasing back and forth with coworkers and friends. I love how the game usually comes down to the last minute. It's the highest of highs when your team wins, and the lowest of lows when they don't. You know what I don't love about the BYU-Utah rivalry? A small portion of fans from both sides who are mean and nasty and make the game too important. It's this small group of fans that give the rest of us bad names. I'm sure everyone heard Max Hall's comments about how he hates the Ute football team, fans, and program. As a BYU fan, I was horrified by his comments. I can understand how he might feel that way after his family was physically and verbally assaulted, and had beer dumped all over them. No one should be treated that way. However, as one of the more visible faces of BYU football he should know better than to make such blanket statements. I know it goes both ways though. Apparently, Kyle Whittingham's wife was hit in the face by a Cougar fan during the game. What is wrong with these people??? I have had the opportunity to go to both BYU and the University of Utah. I can honestly say, that the majority of students at both schools are cool, normal people. I guess I get tired of all the BYU haters out there. If you are truly a Ute fan, I respect that. What I don't respect are people who make intelligent comments such as, "I hate BYU. Everyone that goes there is so self-righteous." Seriously people? I guess that comment is about as informed as, "All Utah fans are classless". Sigh. Despite all the garbage that went on, I thought this year's football game was great. And I couldn't be happier that BYU pulled out the victory in the end.

Go Cougs!

So Much To Be Thankful For....

What a wonderful holiday weekend. Thanksgiving is a holiday that I've come to appreciate so much more as I've grown older. An entire day devoted to eating good food and being with those you love. I love waking up to the delicous smells of turkey, stuffing, potatos, pies, rolls, etc. I love that there is no pressure to buy gifts. I love that the day is so relaxing. I guess I just love it all. This year we spent the first part of the day with my family.

Adam, Levi, Jordan, Annie, Nathan and David

Aunt Beth and Ben. Beth made the layered jello salad. Mmmmm...

My dad snitching some turkey before the blessing.

Uncle Bob and Annie.

Scotty

After dinner at my house, we headed over to the Walkers to hang out for a bit. We got there just in time for dessert--Grandma Parker's world famous pumpkin pie.

Aunt Mary Jo, Foster, and Lucy

Jordan, Jenny, Uncle Steve and Kathy

Foster, Jami, Mary Jo and Mike (aka Spiderman)

Grandma and Grandpa Parker served a mission to India several years ago. They had some of their friends from India come to Thanksgiving dinner. They were such nice, wonderful people!


John watching us play games.

This has been a big year for us. We have so much to be thankful for. When you actually stop to think about it, it's truly amazing how generous the Lord is. Despite all my many blessings, I have to say I am most grateful for......

.....this man.....

.....this girl.....

.....this family......

......this family too......

.....and this gospel.....

Happy holidays!!

Happy Birthday to..........ME!!

It's that time of year again. Birthday season. I do not celebrate a birthDAY. My mom's birthday is the seventeenth, and mine the twentieth, so we celebrate the entire month of November. This year's festivities started with dinner at Z Tejas on the seventeenth. Jordan whipped up some molten lava chocolate cakes for dessert afterward. Happy Birthday Mom!

On the twentieth, I spent the entire work day in boring District meetings. That night was great though! We went to dinner at Ruby River Steakhouse with friends, and then came back to our house for Dairy Queen ice cream cake. This year for my birthday I got a really cute Ann Taylor jacket, the Glee-volume one CD, the David Archuletta Christmas album, an outfit from Shade, some fall decorations, an iTunes gift certificate, and the movie 'The Holiday'. It was an awesome day.

A classic Jordan Walker wrapping job.

Today we celebrated my birthday with Jordan's family. Per my request, we had make-your-pizzas and chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles. Real mature, right?

Mmmmmm.........cupcakes.....

Anyway, it's been a great birthday season. Now I'm ready for the holidays. Bring on the turkey!

Thanks Mom Walker!!

Since she was a week old, Lucy has been sleeping in her pack 'n' play in our living room. Jordan finally decided that it was time for us to purchase a crib, so he got on-line and found an amazing deal. We got this beautiful, hardwood crib for a great price. Anyway, my amazing mother-in-law volunteered to make a crib bedding set for me. I picked out the fabric and she did all the rest of the work. I am SO excited by how cute it all turned out. See for yourself.

Cute, right? Thanks mom, you are the greatest!!

Blessings, Baby Showers, and Piggy Tails

I figured it was about time I posted pictures of Lucy's baby blessing on November 1st. Since our sacrament meeting is last, I asked Annie to stay home with me and help me get Lucy ready. I had everything timed so that I would feed her, get her dressed and then head down to the church. Everything was going smoothly until I picked Lucy up to burp her, and she threw up all over herself. "Not a big deal," I told myself. "I'll just wipe her down with baby wipes." After giving her a thorough wipe-down, I picked her up to get her dressed. Once again, she threw up all over herself. At this point I knew I was in trouble, because Lucy now had an empty stomach and I was out of milk. I frantically got some frozen milk defrosting and attempted to clean Lucy up for the second time so I could put her in her dress. Needless to say, we barely made it to sacrament on time. Lucy was fussy all through the opening song and prayer and even as Jordan was carrying her to the front to be blessed. Jordan's dad told me later that Lucy went to start crying in the circle, but made eye contact with him and began cooing. She was happy through the entire blessing, thank heaven! Jordan gave her a beautiful blessing, and it was a great day. My dad took some pictures after church.

I love how she squints one eye when she smiles!

The dress came with a bonnet that I thought was cute. Jordan informed me that she would NOT be wearing it to church. Oh well, at least we got some cute pictures.

Our happy girl.

She looks just like Jordan in this picture.

On Saturday my close girl friends threw me a belated baby shower. It was originally planned for the week before Lucy was born, but then I had her early. We finally managed to all get together and it was so fun! I LOVE these girls.

Lucy fell asleep on me at the shower. Is there anything better? Pure bliss.

Lucy hanging out with her Aunt Jen. Jen is going to have her baby in two weeks.

The princess of the party.

So, I decided to try giving Lucy piggy tails--heaven knows she has enough hair! Here was the result...

Pretty cute, eh? This was after we took the pig tails out.

This last picture is too cute not to post. We went out in the morning and she had busted out of her swaddle-me blanket. Look how pleased she is with herself. Little stinker!

Back to Work.....

So, the day I have been dreading since July 20th has arrived. The day that I would have to leave my baby and go back to work. With all of the weekend festivities going on (i.e. Halloween and Lucy's baby blessing), I almost forgot that I would have to go back to work on Tuesday......almost. I have gone through various stages of mourning, and I've finally come to an okay place. But Tuesday morning I was a wreck. I cried all morning long. By the time I got to work I was crying so hard I couldn't even talk. Guess what song was playing on the radio while I drove? "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"---I hate Aerosmith. I took a few moments in my car to gain some compusure, and then I entered the school. There was a group of teachers in the foyer to greet me. One said, "Welcome back, who is watching your baby?" That's all it took for me to completely break down and sob in front of all the teachers. They were all so nice, and assured me that things would get better. I would say that each day is getting a little easier. I never planned on working after having a baby. I always knew I would just stay home. I guess I never planned on having a husband in school and also needing health insurance. I am so blessed though, because Jordan and our moms have agreed to bring Lucy to the school every day at lunch time so I can nurse her. So, I never go more than four hours without seeing her. Jordan has been so great about everything. My first day back, he went to Inkleys and printed and framed a picture of Lucy for me to keep on my desk. What a guy. I love that he and Lucy are getting this chance to bond. Even though it's hard, we'll all survive. On a happier note.....how was everyone's Halloween????

Mine was FABULOUS!!

Here's why:

Thanks for the leggings Aunt Erin!

My favorite pumpkins.

Yes, Jordan and I dug through our moms' Halloween boxes and found these pumpkin costumes. Pretty sure I wore mine the year I turned four.

Cousin pictures before putting on costumes.

World's cutest pumpkin.

Cousin pictures after putting on costumes. We had a great Halloween, and hope everyone else did too. I'll blog about Lucy's blessing later. I'm ready for bed.