An Anniversary Timeline

For our actual anniversary (August 11), we went to St. George. We went to the temple (where it all began) and did Sealings. It was fun to be in the temple hearing the same things we heard at our ceremony four years ago. We ate a lot of food at Olive Garden. We laughed. We visited. We had some delicious donut-type dessert at Olive Garden. We dipped it in chocolate, raspberry, and carmel sauce. We drooled. And we ate them all. Goodwins tended Andlie.

This year's yearly anniversary trip planning was up to Bryan, and man, did he nail it! (Not that. Don't be slutty.)

We left on Saturday morning after we opened our presents from each other. I got this lamp I've been coveting over for weeks. I love it!

Bryan got "The Blind Side." I gave it to him because of his love of the South where he served for two years. His love for Southerners is so deep that I love them because he loves them. Are you confused? Don't be.

Saturday night, we went to dinner at PF Chang's where Bryan had made a reservation! We had four courses and we absolutely included dessert again! It was delish!

But maybe we ate a little too much. Is it a bad sign that we couldn't sit comfortably after our meal?

Then, we went to "The Lion King" at the Mandalay Bay! Oh. My. Amazing. Holy awesome. Everyone should see this show. Everyone. It was incredible. Amazing singing. Awesome costumes. Elaborate stage. Like I said, holy awesome. I l-o-v-e-d every second.

After the show, we went and grabbed some treats and came back to our room. We stayed up until 2:00 AM. We laughed. We made fun of all the wasted people we passed in the casinos on the way back to our room. We ate donuts in bed. We visited. We snuggled. We slept in.

Sunday, we exchanged cards and shopped and shopped and shopped.
Huge thanks to my parents for tending Andlie. What a wonderful way to spend a weekend! I'm so lucky to have Bryan. He really is my best friend in the whole, wide world. It was so nice to just hang out with him and giggle slumber party style and talk about life. He's my favorite person in the world. I love him. A lot. Happy anniversary, Bryan!

LOVE

Big, gigantic, humongous, huge thank you to Anne! I love every single picture. A lot. And, I love Andlie so much. Because she's so cute. And perfect.

I Admit It

Fine, I admit it. I love comments. I need to know that you're reading and you love everything I post. Please?

Working

We Almost Melted

It's true. We almost melted. Las Vegas is hot! It's also a very great place to spend a lot of money, hang with family, and visit old friends!

When we got there, I tried to trick Andlie into thinking that the hotel tub was actually the hotel pool. You can tell by the look on her face that she wasn't fooled.

Every time we got in the hot car, she zonked.

Friday night, we had dinner with our friends. [Shout out: Thank you, Ben & Lenzi for buying din!] This is Andlie & Spens' baby shot for their wedding slideshow.

We had so much fun with the Woodburys! We're a very serious bunch. (Lenzi was tired, so we gave her her bink.)

Saturday morning, we went to breakfast with Thane & CeCile. CeCe gave Andlie a candy bracelet. She loved it.

A lot.

She watched "Jungle Book" while we went from place to place. It's her new fave. Whenever she wants to watch it, she just stands by the TV and says, "eppants!!!!" (Translation: Elephants)

Saturday night, we went to the Strip. Here's all the sibs minus Bryce. He couldn't be there because he's in Honduras. Also, Andlie is not our sibling. She's our daughter.

Allen Family Shot: (Andlie had just been told to smile.)

Hot Goodwin Parents:

Bret (aka "Big Daddy"):

Andlie was so so so tired after the Strip. So tired that she didn't even mind falling asleep with a monkey on her face.

While Daddy checked out, we took some very important phone calls.

And wrote some very important letters.

The last 20 minutes of the ride home, I had to distract Andlie by tickling her because she hated the car. So did I. So it was good for us to distract each other.

We got such a haul in Vegas! I'll be honest, I was a bit embarrassed to lay all of our new stuff on the bed, but we got everything on sale, so don't judge.

It was so great to shop and play and see old friends (loves) and just be on vacation! The end.

A Job

Maybe you've heard us shouting and pumping our fists from all around the town. It's because Bryan got a job! A really great, perfect job!

After a one hour phone interview, a four hour (you read that right) interview, and weeks worth of praying and hoping, Bryan became SUU's new Donor Relations Coordinator! I know, you have questions. Luckily, I have answers.

1. Yes, we are so excited! We get to stay close to family and in a safe town and Bryan gets to work at a University! (Plus the benefits are awesome!)

2. Bryan will be working in the Office of Advancement. He is the first person who has held this job, so he will get to create it. He'll also be:

Managing donor giving
Building/growing relationships with donors that have already given
Organizing events, lunches, dinners, parties for Directors of Development (those who ask for the money)
Maintaining databases full of donor names & information
Keeping track of all donors and donation amounts
Managing donor scholarships

3. Yes, we are thinking (heavy on the thinking) about buying a house.

4. No, we are not getting pregnant tonight. (At least we don't plan on it.)

5. No, I am not quitting work, nor am I cutting back on hours.

6. Bryan has already started work for a couple hours after T-Mobile, but his first official day is August 9.

7. You can click here if you want to donate.

Congratulations, Bryan! We're so proud of our awesome hubby and Daddy!!

God Bless America!

Loved the 4th of July taking up an entire weekend! Friday, we had the Benson party! Andlie wore her flag shirt. (She ended up in her nothing but her bow and her diaper due to the very entertaining pool that was set up.)

Sunday we went to church. Andlie wore her cute new dress.

Monday, we posed for a patriotic picture.

Then me & Andlie went to the parade. (Bryan had to work.)

Thank goodness that Andlie got her balloon! She wanted one so bad and was so happy when Mandy & Mindy ran down Main Street chasing the balloon man.

And, of course, my Dad really wanted to climb up to this window sill and sit in the shade. Mandy said, "Dad, you cannot climb the Police Station. You are 50 years old!"

After the parade, we went and played at the splash pad! Andlie LOVED it and couldn't get enough! (Even though the water kept spraying her in the face.)

We ended up with one soaked baby girl.

After the park, we went over to Granny's where Andlie landed herself a whole bunch of ice cream.

We ended the night by watching fireworks!

Happy birthday, America! We are so thankful and feel very blessed to live in this great country!

18 Months?!

Stats

Height: 33 Inches (86%)

Weight: 21 Pounds, 12 Ounces (14%)

Head: 18.75 Inches (80%)

Favorites

Food: Blueberries, Strawberries, Pizza, Fruit Snacks, Cheese, Candy

Toys: Books, Colored Pencils & Notebook, Sock Monkey, Noise & Button Toys

Activities: Anything Outside, Swimming & Water, Walking, Running, Throwing Balls

Dislikes

Nursery

The Eel on "Finding Nemo"

Can Do

Say a lot of words. My best guess is somewhere around 50+. Favorites are, "Momma," "Daddy," "Be Happy," "NO!", "Please," (Peez), "Beep Beep" (her response to "What does a robot say?"), and "Thank You," (Ta To).

Climb up and down stairs.

Color.

Feed herself with utensils.

Drink from a cup.

Count to three.

Sing ABC's ("D D D D").

Make the hand motions for "The Wheels on the Bus."

Recognize a heart and a circle.

Say & point "No, no, no" to anyone.

Blow kisses.

Pucker for a kiss.

So much more! She's growing and learning every single day!

Andlie loves getting her morning cookie from the cupboard. We tried to hide them, but it was not a success so now she just gets her cookie and it's fine.

Andlie loves climbing! She climbs on everything!

Andlie is the biggest cheese I know!
We love everything about Andlie. She is the absolute light of our lives! There is not a day that goes by that we are not amazed at her. She is our princess. We love her to pieces.