a whole new wooooooorld

Read the title again...but sing it, Little Mermaid style ;)

WAIT...that'd be Aladdin. How did 2 of my favorite Disney flicks get swapped in my head??Thanks to my friend Lula for catching that. haha!

*

Okay, so back in December Adam and I enjoyed a cruise, just the 2 of us :) We started in L.A. and stopped by the Mexican beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta (my favorite). Can you say relaaaaaaaxing?? :) While in Cabo, we were lucky enough to be able to go SCUBA DIVING! And I finally got around to getting the film from our little disposable underwater camera developed :) There are only a few we snapped from the first 10 minutes of our dive because we went too deep and the film broke...but enjoy the few that we got!

Adam has been scuba diving a number of times (once when we went to Belize...and a few times at Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge where he went spear fishing). I was preggo with our little B, so I haven't been able to experience diving outside of our classes we took to certify. And while I've loved snorkeling, I was so excited that this time I could actually go under! ...but sadly, I don't think I'm much of a diver :( I got really anxious going so deep, and I couldn't seem to find my "zero gravity"...so I was holding onto our guide's hand 90% of the time (otherwise I'd either sink or float). haha Our guide was a great guy, and really patient with me :) It was phenomenal to swim through a school of fish, see amazing coral, and feel weightless. But I will admit, it was FRIGID, even with wetsuits. (understandable though, it was December and we were in the Pacific Ocean). I am glad though that Adam and I were able to experience it together!

{I spy with my little eye....a little yellow fish}

{I guess we were really wanting to "hang loose" haha}

{yea, we even flirt and hold hands underwater }

Overall, it was quite an unforgettable experience! But truth be told, we still think that Belize topped it (even me just snorkeling) for the color and marine life we saw (I don't know why we didn't get an underwater camera for that trip!).
Have you ever been scuba diving?? I'd love to hear stories about where you went and your experience :)

** side note...thank you all so much for your kind and thoughtful words about my last post. I really felt the need to record our experience, and that sharing it would show that our marriage is real, and has bumps...but those bumps just add flavor, and it is oh-so sweet. So you wifey's out there, what are you doing today that is a little extra to show you love your hubs?? :)

completely happy & happily complete

{2 hands, 1 heart...beach in So. California summer '09}

Last night, as Adam leaned over Brooks' crib to tuck him in, I snuck up behind him and reached my arms around Adam and gave him a long, firm squeeze...the type that makes you sigh afterward and have lingering butterflies.

I thought

Adam is such a good man.

A thoughtful, loving husband.

A caring, devoted father.

Perfect? No sir. (a lot closer to perfect than I am)

But perfect for me? Oh. Yes.

Then, as I washed my face and brushed my teeth with my pink toothbrush, next to the hubs as he brushed with his blue toothbrush, I thought about a conversation we had last week.

We talked about how the past month or two we've somehow felt our relationship settle. Even with our lovely vacation (just the 2 of us) and the romance of the holidays (yes, I think they're romantic) we didn't feel like we were "growing in love" like we wanted to. This beautiful girl wrote about a similar experience she had with her husband, and said it perfectly that somehow days slipped by "without us really connecting." We did the motions, kissed goodnight, prayed together, enjoyed time with our sweet little boy when Adam came home from work...yet we still felt like we were getting too comfortable. We both expressed our regret of not trying as hard as we should to express our love and appreciation to each other. We even reminded each other about our love languages. (mine: 1 -words of affirmation 2-physical touch 3-quality time 4-service...his [same just in different order]: 1-quality time 2-both physical touch & words of affirmation 4-service) and we made a promise to do better at showing affection through those routes of communication. Part of me loves that we're so comfortable, we trust each other and know we'll love each other no matter what...but we still should be putting extra effort into our relationship, building each other up and making sure we know we're each other's number one priority.

We also talked about how we know that if we focus on our personal relationships with God, we'll grow closer as a couple. Heavenly Father is so amazing that way. I know that if I put my complete trust in Him, if I give Him my heart, he will shape it to perfectly match Adam's. We will complete each other. And as Adam and I tell each other:

YOU MAKE ME COMPLETELY HAPPY,

AND HAPPILY COMPLETE

Our marriage is not perfect, but we're working at it.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Adam and I have our differences, lots of them. But more than that, we see the potential in each other and we want to spend the rest of forever growing more in love and reaching those potentials. Together. As one.

Prince Brooks & his weekend adventures...

Once upon a time (last weekend), there was a little guy named Prince Brooks.

He was the cutest boy is all the land! (I'm a little biased)

Prince Brooks didn't need a wild stalion to get around. He gets going pretty fast on his hands and knees, crossing vast kitchen floors and scaling couches and cupboards!

In the afternoon, he enjoyed the Queen's homemade broccoli soup.

Scrumptious!!

...followed by a little nap in his carriage (baby backpack) while the Queen did some dishes.

Later that night, Prince Brooks went to the King's favorite store...the Apple Store at Gateway.

As you can see, he was very impressed :)

And he enjoyed some sweet snuggles on their way to the car with the Queen :)

The royal family (haha) then headed to a wrestling match at UVU of the King's brother, Ben! Ben pretty much demolishes any opponent he meets on the mat :)

The little Prince was grunting and bouncing in excitement with the rest of the crowd as they watched Ben (on the right) WIN!!! :)

The King loved seeing his little Prince Brooks on the wrestling mat after the match. (hopeful that he'll enjoy wrestling as much as his Daddy...who was a state champ in high school. woot woot!)

The Prince and King even made some friends :)

He slept very soundly after a day full of adventures.

And enjoyed the rest of the weekend at home sweet home, err their castle ;)

THE END.

Motivating, comforting words...

The video below is of a talk by a leader in our church, Elder F. Enzio Busche, at a BYU devotional on May 14th, 1996.

His words are so touching...so motivating...so comforting.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from his talk:

"EMBRACE the day with an enthusiastic welcome, not matter how it looks."

"The covenant with God to which you are TRUE enables you to be enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you."

"In you life there have to be challenges, they will either bring you CLOSER TO GOD and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you will take."

"When you cannot love someone, LOOK into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him."

"Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your HEART, might, and strength."

**********

Adam, Brooks, and I are just about to enjoy dinner.

I hope you are all having a lovely, relaxing Sunday...my favorite day of week.

Stylin'

Hi.

It's Brooks and Haley! Didn't you recognize us? ;)

We had a little too much fun yesterday playing with our mustaches...

Brooks even wanted to see what his tasted like.

We're best buds :)

So, yay or nay on the 'staches?

I thought they were pretty stylish :)

And let's hope so cause this here little blog won a Stylish Blogger Award from two stellar ladies yesterday! First, from a my new blogger friend over at Vintch. She writes so beautifully...I look forward to her posts every day!! She some how takes the simple things in life (be they sweet or sour) and puts them into words that are touching and inspiring. She could publish them in a little book I tell you! And the second person, is my long-time best friend Shalyn over at Laugh Until Your Cheeks Hurt. Her blog title says it all...Shay's stories, ideas, and interpretation of life is so optimistic and humorous she will have you smiling from ear to ear after visiting her blog.

The award is passed around so that people can find new blogs and get to know each other a bit better. So my little fam and I have a few things about each of us, along with a couple "stylish" photos, we want to share with all of you:

HALEY:

1 - Hi my name is Haley and I am an ice cream addict. *whew* I said it. I'm pretty sure I have a second stomach for that stuff...and it's bottomless.

2 - I have a crush on Jack Black (don't be alarmed, my husband is well aware of my little crush). I can't get over him in School of Rock, and especially in The Holiday.

3 - I wanted our first baby's sex to be a surprise and was SO glad Adam was okay with it! We loved it that way! I cherish the memory of Adam saying, "It's a boy!!! We have a little boy!" in the delivery room...such a tender yet thrilling moment :)

4 - I love my hot smokin' husband.

{Adam and I as nerds on our first Halloween as a couple. haHA}

ADAM:

1 - My wife & I love the classifieds on KSL.com (a local craig's list)

2 - I coach a middle school wrestling team. Can't wait to have Haley AND Brooks cheer us on this season!

3 - For my body and mind, I go to the gym regularly (at least 4 times a week)...does a body good. Lately I've also been playing a lot of racquetball at our gym.

4 - I love my hot smokin' wife.

{don't you love Brooks' headpiece?}

BROOKS:

1 - I think it's fun to give the floor zurbers/raspberries...even dirty wrestling mats (which about made my mom jump out of her skin)

2 - I'm getting closer and closer to walking every day

3 - I make my mom & Dad suuuuuuuupper happy when I lay my head on their shoulder...so I've been doing it a lot more lately

4 - Whenever I get sad, all my mom has to do is bust out some of her epic dance moves. She's a hilarious dancer and gets me laughing every time :)

disclaimer: I, Haley, may have been the author of the things written about Adam and Brooks...one's not here and the other can't talk, you do what you gotta do.

And since we had 12 things about us, we pick these 12 lovelies for the stylish award :)

Shauna at steve and shauna

Michelle at Oh Mishka

Ashley at Hudson's Happenings

Rachel at Tunes and Spoons

Sam [I am] at Young People in Love

Eva Marie at The Life o' Liv

Rach at Playing House

Brooke at Bright Wishes

Kylie at Spencer and Kylie

Nell at On the First Day of Marriage

Pia at Odds and Ends

Lindsay at Scenic Glory

I'm not "tagging" you, so no pressure about posting about your award :) But I just wanted to let you all know I think you have great style...all different, but all fabulous.

New Boots & Sunshine

Yesterday made me extra happy for a few reasons.

ONE - I got me some new boots from a little place called Forever Young

(which I purchased with a giftcard from last year, woot woot!)

TWO - It was really sunny, so I got to wear my sunglasses while running errands with my little man.

{please excuse the cheesy thumbs-up. thanks}

THREE - Being in the sunglasses-mode, I remember that I had some snazzy little photos of Brooks from a while back (when he was 6 months) trying on some sunglasses at a store I was shopping at. He wanted to join in the shopping fun...

{nom nom nom}

Happy Friday Eve everyone!!

Hope it's sunny enough for you to wear a pair of rockin' shades like Little B ;)

my baby bird :)

After being with my family for the holidays, I've been rather nostalgic lately and sweet memories from my childhood have been flooding back (from the likes of the sweet photo my dad emailed me, and the the fort we built)

I'll take you back in time again...I can remember (or maybe it's just from looking at pictures) being in the tub with my 2 little sisters , we'd pretend we were baby birds and we'd "chirp" to our Mom who'd feed us our "worms" (little bite-size snacks...like a grape, a cube of cheese, gold fish). Well, this morning Brooks was my baby bird :) He enjoyed bites of oatmeal in his bath. Heehee!

{some of the oatmeal definitely ended up in the bath water...but oatmeal is good for the skin, right?}

I don't know what's better than a sweet baby in the tub.

Try to think of something better...you're stumped, right?