*Our Slice of Heaven*: May 2019

We had such a busy year. While Tim was working and going to school we were soooo lucky to have a pool in our complex the town home was in. We lived in Chambery Community. We had a small playground and a clubhouse with a gym. We definitely didn't use the gym as much as we should have, but man did we love that pool.

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✨✨✨✨✨ HAPPY 4th of JULY ✨✨✨✨✨

{Emery felt the flash was far too bright}

***BABY PHOTOSHOOT***

We enjoyed our new ward. TJ started Primary while we were living here. He did such a great job. We were part of the Lakeview 1st Ward. The ward was mostly older couples who lived in little farm homes on Geneva Rd or younger married couples. The Primary was small and the YM/YW were almost non-existent. I was called as the Relief Society Activities Committee Coordinator. I was in charge of organizing the activities we were doing for RS. It was very overwhelming and I felt SUPER unqualified. Luckily I had an awesome committee I served with. They were so helpful and we had such a fun time. One of the first ward activities was a petting zoo. The kiddos loved it!

⏩⏪⏩⏪⏩⏪ EMERY TURNS ONE ⏩⏪⏩⏪⏩⏪

One of our favorite activities was heading down to Nephi to spend time with Papa Joey and Grandma Wendy. We loved to play at the "ranch" and go for four wheeler rides. But our most favorite activity was always heading up out of the heat to Mt. Nebo. We have the most beautiful trails to hike while there. Bear Canyon trail is across a foot bridge and begins by walking through a campground. It is several miles long and takes you up into the deep mountains, eventually spitting you out along the Nebo Loop road. We haven't ever gotten that far but we always enjoy a short hike up the trail. There are always great treasures to find.

We call this hairstyle the "mustache"

While hiking these beautiful trails we get to see all kinds of interesting things. TJ loved to pick up every rock or branch. On the return trip he noticed something particularly sPoOkY!!! He was quite certain there was a monster hand dangling from beneath that log. We stopped for a bit to analyze the situation. He decided it was safe to proceed, s.l.o.w.l.y. Luckily it was just a well placed branch. Such a tender, observant, little guy.

⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫ COVE FORT⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫⧫

I've had the opportunity to visit Cove Fort a few times. It's an amazing location with a great story. We decided to spend the day here with Gma Wendy and Delila. I believe we were on our way to St. George for the weekend and made a quick stop.

Just a little history from Wikipedia:

Cove Fort is a fort and historical site located in Millard County, Utah. It was founded in 1867 by Ira Hinckley (the paternal grandfather of Gordon B. Hinckley) at the request of Brigham Young. One of its distinctive features is the use of volcanic rock in the construction of the walls, rather than the wood used in many mid-19th-century western forts. This difference in construction is the reason it is one of very few forts of this period still surviving.

✾✾✾SAHM LIFE✾✾✾

MISSOURI 2012

We decided to drive out to Missouri and spend a week with our Doan Fam! We love these trips, even if it is a LONG DRIVE. Charlie and Delila rode along with us. We went swimming at Smithville Lake. This was the first time I remember ever going to this lake. And Misty said she didn't think her family had been there very often either. It was a fun new experience.

Tim and Charlie took TJ to a Kansas City Royals game. They ate hot dogs and watched fireworks. TJ did NOT like the fireworks. He was crying the whole time. He said they were WAY TOO LOUD. But other than that it was a fun boys night out!

Kansas City FINALLY got a temple! Tim and I were able to do a session while we were there. What a neat experience. I am sure the early members of the church were cheering in Heaven when this location was announced. SO MUCH HISTORY! I was so happy we were able to mark this temple off our list. We love every chance we get to visit a new temple and participate in the ordinances there. The temple is such a heavenly place.

Nebo Hike

Charlie lead Tim and I up Mt. Nebo. It had been a goal of mine for SO LONG to hike the peak. My dad, Delila, and Charlie had done it the year before when I was pregnant with Emery. I was sooooo jealous that I didn't get to go as well. SO we set a goal that we would hike it this year. Charlie was our little sherpa guide. He climbed that peak like a mountain goat. We were so grateful because I think he really motivated us. It made Tim and I super competitive! We were not going to let our little bro out hike us, haha! We had such a fun time, but it was HARD!

LAKE POWELL * ROUND 2
We had the chance to hit up Lake Powell for the adult trip. NO KIDS ALLOWED! But we did allow a Charlie. It was an awesome trip and such a relaxed experience without the stress of drowning babies {I get some crazy anxiety before every trip lol}

↢↢↢HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TEEJAY↣↣↣

Papa Joey and Gma Wendy had a difficult situation happen at my childhood home in Nephi. They had moved and were doing a rent to own situation with a local family. Well, after about two years the people were unable to purchase the home so my parents decided not to renew the lease. The people then proceeded to destroy the home {after 2 years of being extremely filthy and destructive anyway}. It was a pretty horrible situation and my parents ended up taking legal action. We had to completely gut the home to get it back to a sell-able position. It was a LOT of work/stress/and heartache. We tried to make the best of the situation and spent a few weekends helping out.

If 2011 could be titled "Lovin With The Lires'" then 2012 would be "Townhome Takeover". After 10 months of living in the parentals basement we started looking into housing grants for students. When nothing really panned out we made the decision to take out student loans to pay for our housing. Tim would continue working part-time at Sprint and I would still be full-time stay at home mom. We knew we would be taking a risk getting into that much debt but felt like if we found a place that was affordable and could cover all the rest of our bills we would dive down that rabbit hole. We ended up finding the most perfect two bedroom townhome just across the freeway from UVU in Orem. They even allowed us to bring our dog, Milo. It was heaven. Actually heaven is an understatement. We LOVED it there. Our own little private backyard. A giant kitchen. Plenty of living space. Spacious bedrooms. After coming from the basement, it was pure joy. Plus they had a pool and playground in the development. The LDS ward consisted of couples our age living in the townhomes and condos, plus these cute old farmers that had lived on Geneva Road their whole lives. As you can tell we adored living there. Tim thrived at Sprint and was knocking his classes out of the ballpark. I think he had two 4.0 semesters while we were there. I've seriously considered trying to buy one when Tim finishes his MBA and we're paying off student debt...blah!

In January, before we moved into the townhome, TJ had his first shunt malfunction and revision surgery. When he was about 6 months old we found out his shunt had been recalled due to high malfunction. His neurosurgeon decided to wait since he wasn't seeming to have problems. He said it could be possible that his shunt had malfunctioned but his body didn't need it anymore and we would never really know that it had happened. But if he started experiencing the symptoms of hydrocephalus we would know it had malfunctioned and he would need to have brain surgery to replace it.

He had been having symptoms off and on for a few weeks. Finally it had gotten so bad we decided to take him in and receive a CT scan. His ventricles were full of fluid and it was time to replace his shunt. His body definitely still needed it. His surgery was a success and his recovery was shocking. 24 hrs after brain surgery he was back home with some stitches and plenty of energy to play with his cousins.

*Visiting with Snookie and Papa Joe in Nephi*

In April the boys and I bummed a ride to Portland to visit my sister Lacy and her beautiful Faas family. We rode with my parents and brother Charlie. Emery was still nursing at the time and it was a 12 hr drive. So, while riding in the car, I very covertly pumped and fed Emery with a bottle every few hrs. It was definitely an adventure. We had such a wonderful time. We spent a few days at my sister's house, Easter egg hunted, compared babies {it was the only time Zeke, who is 6 months younger, was smaller than Emery}, and then spent a few days at the Oregon coast. We also had the chance to visit the zoo while there. And the instacare {TWICE} cuz my boys can't travel anywhere without getting croup. Their home was so beautiful and Portland was just stunning. I hope we have the chance to visit again {even though my Faas family up and moved to San Diego...I guess that's better}.