Noah and the Plane Museum

Right before school started my dad brought Noah to a plane museum for a man-date. Then a couple of days later they went to see model airplanes fly.

Noah has always loved spending time with my dad and they have always had a special bond! So when I decided to marry Brandon and move to Arizona, I mentioned that they should move here too as a joke. I never thought they actually would after living it the same town for 28 years! But they did!! And at the beginning of June they moved here...just two blocks away!!! It has been such a blessing having them here and so close to again!! The kids get to see them at least every other day, and it has really helped them to adjust to moving here.

Family Nerf Gun Fight

 

 

One of the many things that I LOVE about Brandon is that he is always happy! Always.

Back in July he came home from work and started a NERF gun fight with me and the kids. And as we predicted, Noah and Ashlyn held their own, and Lily ended up being a little dramatic and crying. Story of our life. But we had so much fun that we had another fun NERF gun fight just a few days later. We had so much fun, and it wore the kids out good! SWEET!

Noah Turns 10!

Noah turned 10, on July 9th...yes, I am really far behind on blogging!

The birthday kid always gets to pick all their meals on the their birthday, complete with Breakfast in bed. So, per Noah's request he got a hot breakfast in bed, complete with pancakes and eggs! After the birthday boy got breakfast in bed, we chilled out at home and then got ready for the day.

Brandon surprised Noah with his present right after lunch...indoor LASER TAG!! Brandon took Noah and his 19-year old cousin out for a manly afternoon of indoor laser tag! Noah was so EsTaCtIc!!!! He has always wanted to go!! Plus, he adores Brandon's cousin.

After the boys went to play laser tag, we headed home where the birthday boy got steak and potatoes cooked on our new grill (I love wedding presents!). Than after presents were opened, we had cake and ice cream.

I can't believe my boy is 10!! I remember when he was born. I remember the day vividly, and every moment about being in the labor. I remember holding him all night right after he was was born. I didn't want to lay him down, and he didn't want me too either. He was fussy when he got laid down, and he slept like an angel while I was holding him. He was such a great baby, and such an easy-going kid. He's always been healthy and happy. I am so blessed to be his mother, and to have him as a part of my eternal family! I can't imagine him not being in our family!!

Some of his likes:
Nerf Guns
Xbox
Long, raw carrots
Sprite
Spiking his hair up
Playing outside
Cars, planes...anything that has an engine
Scouts
Football
Building things
Yard work
Reading
All animals
Brussel Spouts-all veggies really

What he Dislikes:
Going to bed when he is told...he is a master procrastinator!
chores
Germs-his is obsessive about this!

 

 

(sorry for the lack of photos)

4th Of July

I will always be a HUGE fan of holidays! I LOVE traditions, and spending time with family.

The thing with being newly re-married, is that some of the traditions I previously had were from the Tate side, and so now I have to try to create new traditions with my Speth family. While not completely changing too many things and disrupting what the kids and I have always known either.

It's the blending of two and a half families. Harrington, Speth, and some Tate.

One thing I loved about the Tates, was that every 4th of July we would get together to do a big cookout at their house, play games outside, set off our own fireworks in their driveway, and then all of us would head to Purdue University to watch the fireworks on Slater Hill. They were the best fireworks...only because when you would lay down, you could look up and the fireworks and it looked as if they were coming down right on top of you! I went there for about 20 years, I never realized how much I missed it until I moved here to Arizona.

Well, here in Arizona they charge you to go and see the fireworks. Yeah, you read that right...you have to pay money to celebrate our country's freedom. Plus, there is no grass because we are in the desert, so we would have to watch them in a dirt field. We had only been home from our honeymoon about 24 hours, and we were still really tired, and were quickly trying to adjust to being a family. I had the best plans of a big cookout, with friends and family, and then off to see the fireworks. Well, it didn't happen. First off, I was new here and had no friends. Second, the Speth family doesn't do cookouts on the forth, and third, we had to pay for the fireworks, and my new sweet hubby didn't want to spend the money just to fight the crowds. So instead Brandon and Noah headed out to buy some fireworks, and we set them off in the driveway with just our little family of 5. It worked.

It was uneventful, and to tell you the truth, I was a little homesick all at once. I missed my traditions. And I missed family.

I was/am so grateful to be married to such an amazing husband, but clearly blending two families all over again, and starting off with our own new traditions was going to be harder than I thought...as least emotionally.

Next year I will plan a little further ahead and make it a GREAT holiday and start some of our own new traditions!

HONEYMOON BABY!!!

Directly after the wedding my new husband and I headed away from Logan, and down to St. George, Utah to stay for the night. The car ride was funny...only because I ended up driving so Brandon could sleep, and SNORE away! Yes, my sweet hubby snores...LOUDLY! I kept looking over at him while he slept, and would think, 'he's mine, all mine, snoring and all.' For the first time...EVER...I was truly & happily married.

After a 5+ hour long car drive, we arrived at our hotel. Brandon checked us in, while I waited in the car. Then we headed up to our room together. When he opened the room I was stunned at the size at the room! I turned to Brandon and made a comment about how I think they gave us the wrong room! It was too big! But he just smiled and said, "Surprise!" What a sweet boy! He surprised me by getting the biggest suite! After a quick hug to give thanks the nerves set in...I was going to be having SEX! Yes, I said the 'S' word. I was a nervous wreck! He was a virgin...I clearly wasn't!! I hope he didn't think I was supposed to have some mad skills or something!! NO PRESSURE!!  Long story short...twenty minutes later, and after forgoing birth control that didn't fit properly, we were over our nerves, and on cloud 9. Hehe!!

Early the next day we went and got the continental breakfast downstairs, then packed up and headed home to Arizona. It was a quick unpack, and repack, then to bed...literally. We had to be up at 5am to catch our flight to Hawaii, and there was no way we were missing that flight!!

Brandon and I got on the plane, sat down in our upgraded seats, and put our heads back. Time to relax. No more rushing. No more time lines. No more worries. For 6 days at least. Halfway through the flight, the attendant handed us our lunches, and being the overly anxious eater that I am, was in a hurry to start chowing down! But, in my hurry to open my condiment package, I accidentally squirted a mustard all over Brandon!! I cringed and waited for his reaction, but he just laughed! He thought it was funny, and a great start to our honeymoon. LOVE HIM!!

Once in Hawaii we were ready to see the town!! We checked into our hotel, which was beautiful, and then headed out on the town. Hand in hand we walked around the main strip. It consisted of every shop you could imagine, and a huge supply of restaurants. It was so relaxing...no kids, no cell phones, no interruptions. Just us.

Back at the hotel we were in quite the pickle, no pun intended. The birth control we have bought didn't fit...and we didn't want a honeymoon baby, so although we forged it on our wedding night, now we had to be more responsible. We had to go on hunt to find some that fit!!

About 10 stores later...still nothing. There was some that glowed in the dark, some that were flavored, and some that vibrated...but none in the size we needed!! Let me tell you...by day #2 in Hawaii, I was getting REALLY frustrated!!! I wasn't getting any for fear of getting pregnant, and this was my honeymoon!!!! Well, finally, by Wednesday, yes, you read that right...WEDNESDAY!!...We found some at a convenience store about 3 miles away!! After the purchase we quickly headed back to the hotel! Then life was GOOD!

Each day we picked some sort of field trip to do together. On Monday all we did was shop, walk along the beach, and then eat out dinner at PF Changs...which didn't agree with me...yeah, that was embarrassing after only being married 2 days!

On Tuesday we went and saw Pearl Harbor...Brandon's longtime dream! He was in heaven seeing all the ships, and being where men gave their lives for our country. I was in Heaven being with him. After we took our shuttle bus back to our hotel, we went and got 'Cold Stone' and ate it on the beach. It was a prefect end to a perfect day.

Wednesday we went snorkeling at Hanuma Bay. It was truly amazing to be so close to ocean life! It was just like you see in the movies...the fish swim within inches of you!! I had never laughed so hard in all my life that day!! I was crying! Brandon and I were instructed not to touch the coral reefs because they are alive. But by accident we drifted into shallow waters and our knees and flippers were hitting the coral reefs! We both panicked because we didn't want to hurt the coral reefs, and because we were in pain! Those reefs can really scrape up your legs! By the time we got out of there we were both laughing hysterically! It was so much fun!

After a day of snorkeling we just walked "the strip" and did some shopping and enjoyed the street performers.

Brandon can NEVER take a picture with his eyes open if there is a flash...see...

Take 2!

Take 3!

Thursday was my favorite day...we rented a car and headed about an hour away to go to the Temple and then the Polynesian Cultural Center. Going to the temple was truly amazing! We found out while we were there doing a session, that the temple had been closed for a few years for renovations, and it had just recently been reopened. What a blessing that we got to be there shortly after it reopened. After doing an endowment session, we headed to McDonald's for a quick bite to eat, then to the Polynesian Cultural Center for the rest of the day. It is such an amazing place to visit, and I could go back there many more times! What's cool is that the PCC is run by all the BYU Hawaii students. Its' so cool, There is no alcohol served there, no smoking allowed. People are dressed modestly, or at least as much as they can be while still being authentic. It's just cool to be surrounded by so many people who share the same values as us.

Friday, we went on a boat ride, shopped some more, and then headed back to PF Changs' for dinner that night...once again, not a good idea! This time it affected Brandon, so much so that he couldn't even make it back to the hotel and we had to make a pit stop at a bathroom in a different hotel! Yeah, after that, we were definitely bonded. We had both seen each other at our worst. Although, I will say, I couldn't stop laughing at the whole incident! It was SO funny!!

Saturday we just shopped a little more, got 'Cold Stone' again, and then headed back to the hotel to pack our things and check out!

The view from 'Cold Stone.'

I couldn't have asked for a better honeymoon. It was perfect. The weather was amazing! The hotel was so romantic! The breakfast every morning was to die for...I seriously gained about 5-6lbs. on our honeymoon and probably because of the amazing breakfast at the hotel!!! We got to see and do so many things! And I got to do it all with my BEST FRIEND. I am so truly blessed!!

Really.
Truly.
Blessed.