Sewer Backed up...

So Sunday morning around 10:30 I went into the basement to get something and I discovered water all over our basement. I yelled up for Mat to come down while I started moving some of our camping and sports equipment out of the way. Here is Mat investigating the drain.

Here is Mat looking good in his boots investigating the drain that backed up.

Here is all of the lovely sewer water that we got to clean up. It was not too bad to clean up and everyone in the neighborhood was helpful. One of our neighbors had a wet vac that we borrowed. Our stuff that got wet did not get ruined so that was good. The water was only in our basement for less than a day because we had been down in the basement Saturday afternoon and there was no water, but when I went down on Sunday morning there was water. This was our fun weekend adventure.

"Random" Testing

So on Tuesday of this week I was randomly selected to be drug tested. Our company does "random" drug tests about every 4 to 5 weeks. They test about 30 people each time. I have worked their for 2 years and this is my first time being selected. So when the lady from HR came to tell me I was picked and needed to go pee in a cup I laughed because I had just gone to the bathroom 20 minutes before. My co-worker and I had just been talking about being picked for the drug test just right after you go to the bathroom and then it happened to me. Funny how it always works out that way. So I went down to the bathroom where the technicians were and I drank a little water and then went for the gold. Sadly on my first attempt I did not have enough pee. So I had to throw away that sample and start drinking lot's of water. I sat around for about 45 minutes drinking 4 glasses of water and hanging out in the little lounge area with some other co-workers until we felt like we could give enough of a sample. On my second attempt I had more than enough fluid. Then about 20 minutes after the test I had to go to the bathroom and then after I went, about another 30 minutes later I had to go again. FYI: As far as I know I passed because I still have a job, but I'm not worried.

Happy Birthday Maty!

Today is Mat's 29th Birthday. Wow! Happy Birthday to my cute husband. I love Mat and glad that he is part of my life. He is such an amazing husband and is so good to me. I couldn't ask for a better husband and person to spend eternity with. He is so fun to be around and I look forward to the many more birthdays that we get to celebrate together.

Here's a couple cute random pictures of my Maty:

Gotta love him!

Something Funny, Something Nice

So yesterday at work I had two different highlights, one funny and one nice. The funny one: we had a vendor come in to work to fix one of our fire sprinkler alarms. I gave him a badge and then he went off with one of our employees to fix the fire sprinkler. About 10 minutes later he was back up at the desk saying how he felt stupid and was a little upset because he had the wrong size on the new part. An hour later he came back with the new part. I gave him a badge to get around our building and I joked around with him about how he better have brought the right size (for the new part) this time. Then 10 minutes later he was back up at my desk to turn in his badge because he brought the wrong part again. He was not happy at all. I felt a little stupid because I had made a big deal when he came in, but honestly I just wanted to laugh because it was so funny. Then he left and came back about an hour later. When he came back I didn't make any comments to him about having the right part because I felt bad. He just went off to fix the part and when he didn't come back for a long time, I knew he had finally brought the right size with him. Once he left our building after fixing the fire sprinkler I just laughed. I did feel bad for the guy though especially since I had joked around about making sure he had the right part. It was really funny you had to be there.

The nice highlight: so around lunch time Kneaders dropped off some lunch for someone (they come to our building and drop off orders for people all the time). As they were dropping it off they told us that is was for 2 people. One of the two people named was me and the other one named was my co-worker that is next to me. I was really surprised because I did not call them and order food. The driver said that someone called this lunch in for us and wanted it to be a surprise. So my co-worker and I were trying to figure out who would do something so nice for us. We brainstormed and finally came up with an idea. We knew whoever ordered the lunch for us would casually wanted to find out if we have received the delivery. We were able to figure it out, but I am not going to go into that story. This was such a nice gesture from one of my co-workers. It was so nice of them and really made my day and the turkey sandwich from Kneaders was just fabulous. I really appreciated this kind thoughtful gesture it was the highlight of my week.

Cute kids

We babysat Ellie and Ben(one of our nieces and nephews) a couple of weeks ago and I just had to put some pictures up because they are just so cute. We jumped on the mini-tramp, played chutes and ladders, taught them how to play checkers, and played hide-n-seek with them. We had a blast.

Ellie looks so adorable in this picture. I can't believe how big she is getting. She is 6 now.

I just have a couple of pictures of them all very similar, but I just couldn't decide which one I liked best. Ellie was enjoying posing for me.

They have such pretty blue eyes.

Ellie took this picture of Ben and I. She did a really good job of taking this picture. Especially since the camera is heavy. It is a big camera, a Nikon D50. She got her very own camera for Christmas this year too, so she loves to practice all the time.

Here is Ben's attempt to take a picture of Ellie and I.

Recap of 2009

So as I reflected upon last year I realized that Mat and I had a lot of big changes in our lives. Here are just a few of our highlights:

Put our condo up for sale in January
Went to Australia for 2 weeks in February
Got approved to be a potential adoptive couple at the end of March beginning of April
Got an offer on our condo in May
Moved out of our condo in June
Mat got a new job in the middle of June
Celebrated our 5th year Wedding Anniversary on June 18th.
Moved in with my mom end of June and beginning of July
Decided to build a house in July
Celebrated my 25th birthday in August
Moved into our beautiful new home end of September
Mat lost his job in the middle of October
Mat found a new job at the end of November
Enjoyed life, our new home, family, friends, and the holiday season in December.

We are looking forward to the New Year.

Four Christmases

So Mat and I had Four Christmases this year. We got up early picked up his grandparents on our way to Mat's dad's home and did not get home until late at night. We had a good time, but were just very busy.

First Christmas: Mat's Dad and Step-Mom's home:
We started it off with breakfast with the fam. We had Mountain Man Breakfast. It was really good, not good for you, but very tasty. After breakfast we opened gifts.

Us and some of our cute grandparents. (Mat's Dads Parents)

Sydney enjoying one of her Christmas gifts. She is 6 and Miss Independent. She is cute.

Drew one of our nephews opening one of his presents.

Grandma and precious little baby Drew. Drew is such a sweet baby. He is so cute and we enjoying having him part of the family.

Mat playing with the kid's Christmas toys.

Some of the fam.

More of the fam opening up gifts.

This is Mat's dad Stan.

Second Christmas: My Mom's and Step-dad's:
We rushed over to my mom's after because we were going to be talking to my sister and brother who are both on missions right now. This is Lani (my brother Craig's wife) and my mom trying to call my sister. It took several times before we were able to get through to my sister because it was an international call.

My dad came over too so he could talk with my sister. Here is my dad and Grandma (my mom's mom).

Here is some of the family waiting for the call to go through.

This is my sister who is on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (She is the one on the right.) She is in the Berlin Germany mission right now. It was really good to talk to her on Christmas day. I predicted that the first 5 to 10 minutes of the call would be my sister crying and my mom. I was right. It was good to hear her voice. She has been gone for over 6 months now. It has gone by fast. My sister is growing and learning so much. She is doing a great job on her mission and is working very hard. We are so proud of her.

Right after we talked to my sister we talked to my little brother. My little brother Steven is on a mission right now in Washington State. He loves it up there and loves his mission. (He is the one on the right in the white.) It is amazing to see how my little brother has changed for the better while he has been on his mission. He has grown-up so much and has grown so spiritually strong it is amazing. He is a good example to me. He will be home in the end of July and we can't wait.

Third Christmas: Mat's Mom and Step-Dad's:
Well after the calls we went straight over to the next house. We opened up gifts, visited, and then devoured some delicious Tex-mix dip. Do you like how Mat cut me out of this picture?

Grandma (Mat's mom) playing with cute Aiden and his new toys.

Val (Mat's Step-dad) playing with the kids new gloves.

Sydney and a new cute doll.

Kaimen

Look at Will's face.

Mat and I enjoying just enjoying the kids opening up their presents.

Mat being a little stinker taking pictures of me when not wanted.

Four Christmas: My Dad and Step-Mom's:
I forgot to bring the camera to my dad's. We went over their and opened gifts and ate some good food. We just sat around and visited. It was really nice. Mat and I ate so much food that the thought of food just made us sick. We had a great Christmas. Spending time with family is just really nice.

Christmas Eve Celebrations

Christmas Eve is always a big deal for my family especially since we are German. We had a great big meal that my mom prepared. We had so delicious ham, potatoes, and lot's of other yummy stuff. Here is the table beautifully decorated.

Payton making noise like usual.

Mat keeping Payton entertained by pulling her all around on the tile. She just love it.

My cute mom that didn't want me to take her picture. She sure did make a great meal though.

My second oldest brother Craig with his video camera.

Mat and I Chillin'.

So after we ate we played the pipe chimes. We play them every year. The first song or two is always rough for us (we don't get much practice just once a year), but by the end we are not too bad. My mom has the Christmas songs blown up on big posters and she points to the numbers and we strike our appropriate chime with large nails when it is our turn. We all usually gripe out doing the chimes every year, but I think we all really like it.

Here is Mat looking very excited with his chime. After songs and chimes. We usually read a new Christmas story. This year my mom did not get one so I suggested that we make up a story. So how it worked was everyone would say a few words then the person next to them would have to start where they finished off and keep going around the circle several times. I don't remember what our story was about, but obviously it was pretty lame. We had fun doing it though. Then we read the nativity story of Baby Jesus which is the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. I will be forever grateful for the birth of my Savior Jesus Christ.

Here is everyone that was able to make it this year. Some of the family was not able to make it because they are on missions and some at in-laws.

My cute grandma and the headphones that helped her to hear better. Look at that face. We had a great Christmas Eve.

December 23rd Family Christmas Party

So every December 23rd since I've been alive we have our annual Christmas party with my dad's side of the family. My dad has 3 brothers and 3 sisters. They are all married with kids and their kids have kids, etc you get the gist. Not everyone comes because some people live outside Utah, but we usually get a good turn out. I did not bring my camera, so I don't have pictures, but we had a nice time. Some of this family I only see on this day of the year which is kind of sad. We always have it on the 23rd because that was my Grandpa's birthday. If my grandpa were still alive he would have been 90 years old this year. Crazy. My grandpa died when I was a little over a year old. He had a heart-attack. So I didn't know my grandpa which makes me a little sad. My grandpa built houses for a living. My Grandma (dad's mom) is also not alive, but she died when I was a senior in high school. So I was able to get to know my grandma and spend lot's of time with her. I use to sleep over at her house all the time. Three things that remind me of my grandma are cream soda rootbeer, scrabble, and mini boxes of cereal.
Anyway, back to the party. We start off by eating. We have lot's of yummy food. Everyone just brings potluck. Then we have a talent show which has gone on for years. I use to participate in the talent show in my younger years. I have many good memories of those times. I can remember my brothers doing a Grinch skit one year for it. It was really funny and we have it on video. I also remember doing line dancing with my sister and Aunt Carolyn. Yep that's right we did the good old fashioned boot scoot and boogie in front of everyone. However, now it is usually just the young kids that participate. My nieces and nephew participated this year with some singing and dancing. They were cute. Then after the talent show we always have a white elephant gift exchange. Then we clean-up and go home. Spending time with family is great.