The Maxfields...

Snacks With Daddy

2012-01-24T18:07:00.001-08:00

I just had to put these pictures on because I thought they were so cute! Tonight after dinner I went in the kitchen to find these two cuties eating a snack together. I thought it was so sweet.. And I loved that they were both wearing their undershirts because it was a bit warm in our house.

The other pictures are from Sunday. We had a really nice day. We woke up and made pancakes then had a relaxin morning until we went to church at 12:30. That night we went to dinner at Sams grandparents house and had so much fun visiting with family! I'm sad I forgot to take pictures while we were there. And I'm putting these pictures up to show that I wore an animal print sweater! I have had this sweater in my closet for months- but I've been too scared to wear it. I am normally so plain that it felt a little weird but I did it! I even took a picture of it in my bathroom mirror to show you all. Classy, right?

Xoxo,
Brooke

Picture Happy

2012-01-17T09:57:00.001-08:00

Our camera has been broken for quite some time now so all the pictures that I have are on my phone. Since I never seem to get around to uploading them to my computer, they never get posted on the blog. But now thanks to this handy little app I am going to be blogging like crazy! Here are some recent pics.. They are totally out of order- I'm still learning how to use this!

1.The first one is us on new years eve... We are so excited for 2012!! It's going to be a great year!

2. Connor and all of his cousins

3. Just a cute picture of Connor jumping at Nannie and Grandpas house

4. Connor on Christmas morning.. And Sam wearing his new ray bans

5. Sam in his study zone. He is studying for the CPA exams and it keeps him so busy!

6. Connor and I on christmas morning

I'm sure I'll be back again soon :) I hope you are all having a great start to the new year!

Thank you iPhone!

2012-01-17T09:41:00.001-08:00

I'm so glad my friend Alisha told me about the blogger app! Maybe it will help me most more often since I can use pictures from my phone. Thanks Ali! Here is a quick picture of what my morning has been like... I love snuggling my boy!

Family Pictures...

2011-12-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

It has been so long since I have updated this sad little blog. I've been thinking about it for months, but with so much time that has passed it seems impossible to play catch up. So I'm not going to stress about it and just start posting things that are happening now.

That being said we recently had our family pictures taken. I really love the way they turned out. My sister is one awesome photographer!

Check out the rest of our pictures here

The Last 2 Months- Part 1

2011-06-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been two months since I have blogged. Time seems to be going so fast these days! It seems like so much has happened in the last 2 months, so Ill just trace back and try to write about some of the big changes and things that have happened in our life. Then I can get back to blogging about the little things.

My amazing husband graduated from BYU! He worked so hard while he was there and I am so proud of all that he accomplished. I was one proud wife watching him walk across the stage to get his diploma. Both of our families came up for the big day!

Our family after graduation.. yes Connor is missing his left shoe

The morning after graduation we hit the road and made our move back to Arizona! Sams dad and brothers helped us pack up all of our stuff and they even drove it back for us and had it unloaded and waiting for us when we got there. Talk about sweet boys! It was a bitter-sweet move for us. We adored our time in Provo and made some really great friends up there. We loved the little house that we lived in and while we were so excited about our move, it was sad saying goodbye.

Connor on our long drive from Utah to Arizona

When we first got to Arizona we didn't have our housing situation worked out yet so we moved in with Sams family. They were way too nice to let us stay with them and really spoiled us while we were there! Our first Sunday there was Easter and we woke up to a delicious breakfast and Easter baskets. It was Connors first Easter and we were so happy to spend it with our families!

Connor checking out his Easter basket

Diamondbacks hat!

Well good morning!

Connor and Grandpa Maxfield

Handsome boy

Looking for Easter Eggs

Connor and some of his cousins

Mother's Day!

Sam and I are lucky to have two of the greatest mom's you could imagine.

This is my mom... we call her Grandma. She is one of the most talented people you will ever meet. She has such a great attitude. She is always happy and she never gets stressed. She does more than anyone I know and she does it all with a smile on her face. She can do the splits! She would give anything and everything for her kids. She is an amazing cook and loves doing crafts. She is gorgeous. She is so inviting and she gives the best back massages. She is a do-it-yourself kind of gal and rarely asks for help. She is an amazing mom and I love her! I asked Sam to describe her in three words and this was his response: giving, selfless and kind

This is Sam's mom. We call her Nannie. I have so much respect for her because she raised my sweet husband, and well she did a perfect job! From the time I joined her family she has treated me like her daughter and made me feel right at home. She is kind to everyone she meets and makes everyone feel so special. She keeps a spotless house, and is very organized. She is always serving others and rarely takes time to think of herself. She is beautiful and is in tip-top shape. She has the cutest handwriting ever and she gives the best gifts. She loves her family and everyone knows it. I love her very much and feel so lucky to be her daughter. Sams three words to describe her are: caring, loving and sweet.

Well I think that about wraps up part one. I have piles of laundry screaming my name so I will finish the rest later :)

The Perfect Day!

2011-04-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

Today has been perfect. This morning Sam took care of Connor and let me sleep in until 8:30 which felt amazing! After I got up and got going we walked over to the park to let Connor play. We let him swing and had a great time. After the park we went for a long walk and ended up at a deli for lunch. I love going on walks with Sam because we just get a chance to talk. Today our conversations consisted of these things:

How perfect our son is

How excited we are about moving to Arizona

Thank goodness today was the last day of class for Sam

We walked home and put Connor down for a nap and watched an episode of Chopped which we love. Sam did have to go to school and while he was gone I was able to do some laundry and play with Connor. Then I decided I wanted to go for a run/walk. The weather was so beautiful today and Connor LOVES being in his stroller. I ended up going about 4 miles which was great! Sam is now at the gym and when he gets home I will go to the gym. Then we will make dinner together and curl up on the couch for 2 of our weekly shows... Survivor and Modern Family!! To wrap up our night we will do the Jillian Michaels DVD together. Tonight will be our 4th night and we are sore but we enjoy it! I loved today. It was nothing too exciting but I got to be with my family and spend lots of time outside!

Connor and Sam at the park. Aren't they so handsome?

Late Night Blogging

2011-04-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

There have been so many things I have wanted to blog about lately, but it seems like I have had no time to sit at the computer! So here I am at 11:00 at night updating the blog.

It's been a while since I have given a Connor update. He is still the happiest and sweetest baby I have ever seen. I adore him and love spending my days with him. We are the best of friends. Today he said his first real word!! He has been able to say things like da-da, ma-ma, ba-ba for the past couple of months, but today he said his first word and knew what it meant... want to know what the word was? Drum roll please...

MOM!

He was playing in the kitchen and I was in the other room and I hear him saying (more like yelling) "mom...mom...mom...mom". I couldn't believe it. I ran into the kitchen and when he saw me he got a huge smile on his face, pointed at me and said it again. "mom". Then the rest of the day when he wanted my attention he would say it. My heart completely melted. I didn't get it on video today.. but trust me, I will!

Connor is 10 months old and these are the things he loves:

-Being outside...even if its just sitting on the front lawn

-Swinging... sometimes we spend hours at the park

-Cuddling... he loves cuddling with me on the couch and taking naps together

-His dad...Connor gets SO excited when Sam comes home from school

-Copying people...he does this all the time! Tonight we went out to dinner and there was this little girl a few tables over that was crying. Connor was staring at her for a few seconds and then started doing a high pitched (fake) cry. Then he would laugh and do it again. Sam and I couldn't stop laughing

-Eating food...the boy can definitely eat!

-Taking baths...he always has and probably always will

-Rolling a ball back and forth with me or Sam on the floor... it keeps him entertained for a long time

-Watching Thomas the Train... I feel bad that he even knows what it is. I promise he doesnt watch it all that often, but it is the only thing that interests him on TV. He has a couple of Thomas toys and books and they are by far his favorite.

-Helping me with dishes... Every time I open the dishwasher he crawls as fast as he can to stand up and help me. I always give him a few small plastic dishes and he puts them in for me.

Connor makes us so happy and we love ever second of him! Here are some pictures and videos of our little guy:

At In-N-Out with Mom and Dad

Chubby boy sleeping in his stroller

This is him at the park with his friend Penny.

Swinging at Grandma & Grandpa Maxfields house

Connor and Mom

Just one more

Now here are a few videos.. please excuse my annoying voice! And I can't figure out why they are uploading sideways..sorry!

This first video makes me laugh. He had just finished eating his breakfast and he was copying everything I was doing. I cut it off so that you wouldn't have to hear me sing a whole song at the end, but even after that he copied a few other things as well. My favorite is the high pitched scream...enjoy!

This video was from today. When he first started doing this he was laughing really hard but unfortunately I didnt get a video til the end when the silliness was wearing off.

This is the last video for today. I took it because I wanted to document it. He literally does this scream/squeak noise all day long. So funny!

I had lots of other things I wanted to write about like Sams birthday and our trip to AZ and California, but I think I'll leave that for tomorrow. I need to get some sleep. Good night!

Conference

2011-04-06T08:16:00.001-07:00

I started this post a few days ago, but never got around to finishing it until now...

Over the weekend we had the blessing to hear from our prophet and church leaders in General Conference. So many of the speakers felt like they were speaking directly to me. I felt so renewed after listening to the talks and came away with lots of things that I personally want to work on. I am so thankful for the wonderful messages that were shared. There were so many talks that I absolutely loved, but there was one in particular that I really enjoyed. You can watch it here. For some reason this talk just made me cry! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Need A Good Laugh?

2011-02-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

Well if you feel like laughing today...you've come to the right place. I am about to share with all of you my most embarrassing moment. It happened last week. I have no idea why I am sharing this- I guess I hope it will at least make someone smile!

Short version= I fell off of a treadmill. Longer version below:

I really like to run. I love to put in my headphones and run to my favorite music. It just helps clear my mind and I think it feels great! Whenever I run outside I always wish that I could run with my eyes closed. I dont know why, and now saying it out loud sounds weird. For some reason I am just out jogging and I am into a good song and I just want to close my eyes. I dont though, because Im afraid Ill get hit by a car, or that someone else will be running and we will run right into each other.

Well the other night Sam and I went to the gym together. We were running next to each other on treadmills. I was pretty tired, but I was making myself push through it. A song came on that I really love and I started to close my eyes. All of the sudden it hit me.. Im on a treadmill, I can totally run with my eyes closed! There are no cars or other runners I have to worry about... this is prefect.

My perfect idea was not so perfect after all. One minute I was closing my eyes and felt totally in the zone.. and the next, well lets just say I felt myself moving backwards. And yep, you guessed it. I fell right off of that dang treadmill. It wasn't even a cute little fall. I slid completely off the back and landed on my hands and knees.

Can you believe it?!!? It was by far the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me. Maybe because it was at the Golds gym in Provo.. and if you have ever been there you know how packed the cardio section gets. If you're wondering how I handled it, well I handled it as any lady would. I gracefully stood back up, mustered up a nervous smile and got on with my run...eyes open! If you happened to be one of the people behind me at the gym...I bet I made your day!

I love February!

2011-02-24T15:41:00.000-08:00

In February I get to celebrate 5 people in my family.... 5 people that I happen to love, a lot!

On February 14th I get to celebrate my valentine, Sam. He is by far my favorite person in the whole world. He has been my valentine for 7 years now (I don't feel old enough to say that). He is the funniest sweetest smartest most handsome guy I've ever met. He is the most wonderful husband I could possibly imagine and the worlds greatest dad. The best part about him is that he doesn't know how great he is. He is so humble and is always finding the good in others. To sum it all up, Sam is perfect!

February 17th is my best friends birthday. And yes, I do consider her family. That is because she has been my best friend since 3rd grade, and I know for sure that she always will be. Amber is the kind of best friend I wish everyone could have. She is so funny and sweet and genuine and I love her! You cant help but laugh when you are with her, she is just too much fun. I love spending time with her, and even though it doesn't happen all that often anymore, we still stay close. I'm lucky to call her my best friend!

On February 20th I get to celebrate my sister Bethany's birthday. Bethany is one of my very favorite people. I honestly don't know what I would do without her in my life. I think I talk to her at least 3 times a day and we skype several times a week. She is the one I go to when I need advice, or when I just need someone to talk to. I love Bethany more than words can say. She is such a good example to me of how to be a great mom. She is beautiful, smart, kind, and one of the best cooks I know! I am always getting recipes from her.I am so grateful to be her sister!

February 22nd is my niece Eden's birthday. This is one of the cutest little girls you will EVER meet. She just turned 3. She has so much personality and is so mature for her age. She makes me laugh every time I talk to her...which happens to be a lot considering Bethany is her mom. She is a great cousin to Connor... she sends him drawings in the mail and is always wanting to talk to him. And just look at her. How can you not love her?!

Last but definitely not least, February 23rd is my brother-in-law Zach's birthday. If I had to use one word to describe Zach, it would definitely be sweet. I adore Zach. I don't think I have ever met a boy so sweet. He is always concerned with other people's feelings. Zach also loves Connor more than you could imagine. Ever since he found out we were pregnant he has loved his nephew ( He always said were having a boy from the beginning). Im so glad Zach is my brother!

I guess Im just really feeling the love this month... hope you all are too!

My New Best Friend

2011-02-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

I bought the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred DVD. Today was only day 2, but Im actually liking it! Hopefully Jillian will be able to help get me in shape for the summer!

*On a side note, I ran 2.5 miles today. I know that may not sound like a lot but Im just starting to run again.. it felt so good!

If anyone has any good tips for getting in shape quickly, let me know!!

Maxfield Update

2011-02-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

Since its been a while since I've posted to the blog I thought I'd give a little update. We are doing great. Life has been busy, but thats a good thing. Connor is getting so big. He is crawling all over the place and pulling himself up to stand. I can't believe it but in 3 months he will be a year old. WOW! Where has the time gone?

There are lots of other exciting things happening in the Maxfield home. In a few months my amazing husband is graduating from BYU in accounting. We cant believe our time here in Provo is almost done. We moved up here right after we were married and have been here ever since (almost 3 years). Sam has worked so hard, you would not believe it! For those of you that dont know, he studied accounting. The accounting program at BYU is one of the best in the nation and needless to say it kept him very busy. We are going to miss BYU but are excited for the adventures that lie ahead.

This summer we are moving back down to Arizona (yay!!!) where Sam has a summer internship lined up with Deloitte and Touche. We could not be more excited about this opportunity. Deloitte is where Sam has wanted to work since he first starting in accounting. I'm so proud of him for getting this internship as it was very competitive. They interviewed about 50 people and could only hire 2.

After the summer internship Sam is going back to school to get a Masters in accounting. We are not 100% sure yet but we think we will be going to USC. We are still waiting to hear from the other school he applied to, but he got accepted to USC and was given a generous scholarship. We are pretty sure it is where we will go. Hello sunny days and sandy beaches!

I know I have said this many times before, but I am going to be better about blogging. Seriously this time :)

Makes Me Smile.

2010-09-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

I love this little boy so much. Much more than any words could possibly describe. I love him so deeply, so immensely, so completely. He makes me smile everyday and I am so grateful to be his mom.

Some fun facts about Connor:

He can now hold his head up on his own.
He sleeps through the night (most nights)
He loves bath time...its his favorite.
He thinks his mom and dad are hilarious.
He loves to cuddle.
He snorts when he cries which is the cutest thing in the world.
He tries to eat anything that comes near his mouth.
He occasionally sucks his thumb.
He hates the car.
He always sleeps with one or both arms above his head.
When he wakes up he does really big stretches and smiles.
He loves going for walks.
He takes 4-5 naps per day. The boy loves his sleep.
His favorite place to be held is in a rocking chair.
He will only sleep on his tummy.
He is really good and peeing and or pooping right when we take his diaper off.
He loves his dad.
He sleeps much better if I tuck one of my shirts (recently worn) over his mattress.
He will sometimes try to copy noises that we make.
Has started to scoot...just a little bit and only if he is not tired at all.
I think if he could choose he would like to lay on my chest ALL DAY.
He melts our hearts, and I think he knows it.

Here are some recent pictures. Enjoy!

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Today Is The Day!

2010-08-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Tonight we are flying home to Arizona!!! Its our first vacation this summer and we are so very excited. Its going to be such a fun trip. I am so looking forward to the sun that I have been missing so much. The reason for our trip is that Charlie (Sams brother) is coming home from his mission! I can't believe it has been 2 years and we are so excited to see him. It will be his first time meeting Connor. We cant wait!! Also while we are down there my brother is going through the temple to get ready for his mission and Sam is going to bless Connor. This is going to be the greatest vacation ever! Cant wait to see you all in AZ. I better get packing...

This is Charlie and I on graduation day

This is Kevin who just got his mission call to:

El Salvador Sansalvador/ Belize Mission!!

Connors Story

2010-08-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

I know I should have done this months ago. but I thought I would share Connors story. I will just warn you now that it will probably be long and you do not have to read it..its more for myself. I want to write down every little thing before I forget.

When I was around 28 weeks pregnant my doctor noticed that I was measuring small. We had an ultrasound done that confirmed our sweet boy was also measuring small. We were sent to a specialist who determined that the umbilical cord was attached on the side of the placenta. It meant that Connor probably wasn't getting all of the nutrients he needed and therefore was small. Because of this I started going in 2-3 times a week for non stress tests and ultrasounds...just to make sure everything was okay. At 37 weeks they decided that it would be best to induce me. They said that he wasn't growing much inside and would do better outside. We were overwhelmed with excitement and nervousness...not knowing what to expect but just dying to hold our sweet little boy!

On May 25th we woke up early and checked into Orem Community hospital to be induced. When I got to the counter I gave the nurse a big smile and said "Hi, Im here to be induced". She looked at me her eyes moving from my face to my belly, she hesitated and said "Could you please turn to the side?" I turned to the side. I could tell that she couldn't tell I was pregnant. I was instantly overcome with fear. I thought for sure she was going to send us home because she didn't think I was pregnant. I was planning in my head what to say to her. Thinking of how I could explain that I really was pregnant. But after turning to the side she said "Oh, I just couldn't tell you were pregnant. Come on back...

We got to our room and I got changed into my gown and into the bed. Our nurse was absolutely amazing. Probably one of the nicest people I have ever met. She made us feel so comfortable and really played into our excitement. I will never forget her. She put in my IV. This is when I started to really freak out. I looked up at my strong handsome husband to see a pale, wide eyed boy. He looked sick. The next think I knew he was covering his mouth and making his way to the garbage can. Poor thing. If you know Sam you know that this is not like him at all. The next few hours were a blur. Both of our moms showed up and I was starting to have contractions. I didnt feel any of the contractions for a long time. I remember the nurse asking me over and over "Are you sure you cant feel those?" I didn't feel a thing. I remember at one point asking the nurse if she wanted me to just say I felt something. When I was dilated to about a a6 or 7 I started to feel a little bit uncomfortable. Nothing painful, but I could feel pressure in my back. It was at this point that the nurse explained to me that if I wanted an epidural I needed to get it now. So of course I did. Come to find out my scoliosis makes it pretty difficult to get an epidural. The Dr. suggested that next time I have a baby I should bring X-rays of my back so they can see what they are working with. Note Taken.

The next thing we knew it was time to push. Our moms went out and it was just Sam and I in the room. I pushed for a good 30 minutes holding each push for 10 seconds in sets of 3's. I remember wanting lots of water. Connors heart rate was dropping so I also had to wear an oxygen mask. Sam couldn't have been more perfect. He held my hand tight and kissed my head. He was just what I needed. At 5:04 pm we delivered our sweet baby boy. I remember the first time I saw him. He took my breath away. He had the sweetest little cry. I was in awe of my Connor. Because he was so small and pale, they took him right away to check on things. They didnt leave the room, but he was where I could not see him. I was so anxious to know if he was okay I just couldnt take it. They then told us he weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces. I remember my heart sinking as I heard 4 pounds. I was not expecting him to be that small. They wrapped him up in a blanket and brought him over to me and let me kiss his head. He then had to be taken to have his blood sugars tested. Sam of course went with him. It was just me and Dr. Young. This is the part I will remember forever.

As Dr Young delivered the placenta I saw his face change. I noticed his eyes squinting. He had a very concentrated look on his face. He then asked the nurse to get a bag because he wanted to have my placenta sent to a pathologist to have it looked at. I thought that was odd, but then again this is my first baby. Maybe this is normal. He then looked up at me and told me that I had a miracle baby. Of course I asked what he meant. He held up the placenta and showed me that the umbilical cord was not even attached to it. It was about 10 inches away. He told me that we were very lucky to have Connor. His next words made me burst into tears. "Normally with this conditions babies have an 85% mortality rate." I couldnt stop the tears from coming. He also said that if they would have known this they would have done a C-section about 3 months earlier.

I remember I called my mom and told her that she and Chris could come back now. I didnt like being alone. Shortly after they came in I saw the happiest dad in the world pushing our son into the room. The big grin on Sams face was the one thing that made me realize things were okay. To everyones amazement Connor was perfectly healthy! I held him in my arms and kissed his face. I just kept replaying the same words in my head: miracle baby. I could not believe how this tiny little boy could already melt my heart. Every time I looked at him I could physically feel it in my heart how much I love him. I was so happy to know that we started our family. There is nothing better than seeing the man you love holding your child.

We stayed in the hospital for 2 days. It was great to be there, but even greater to come home. We were lucky enough to have my mom stay with us for 2 weeks. I could write a whole new story about that. She was amazing and took such good care of us. My life has been so full of joy since Connor was born. I now know what it means to have the love of a mother. Nothing can compare.

I sure love my boys...

Almost 2 Months Old!

2010-07-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

I love being a mom!

Meet Connor

2010-05-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

Connor Samuel Maxfield
Born May 25th at 5:04 p.m.
4 pounds 15 ounces
18 inches long

We are loving every minute of him!!

Feeling Anxious...

2010-05-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I go in at 7:00 a.m. to be induced... I dont really know how I am going to get through today! It's all I can think about. I have a feeling today will feel like one of the longest days of my life. All I know is that I am so excited to meet our baby boy and I cannot stop dreaming about him. It amazes me how much I already love him and I haven't even met him yet. Today I have been trying to savor every little thing about being pregnant because I know that there is going to be part of me that misses being pregnant. I have enjoyed every second of it- honestly! There is something so special about feeling your little baby move inside of you, that's what I'll miss the most. Luckily it will be even better to hold him in my arms and kiss his sweet face! I am so glad that I have the greatest husband in the world and that he will be by my side for the whole process. I can hardly wait!! All of this excitement does come with fear... the thing I worry about most is his health. I just hope that he is strong and healthy. He will be small- the doctors have prepared us for that- and I am okay with small! Just please let him be healthy!!! I really think he will be. I have a good feeling about everything, and I think he is doing just fine! I have been having non stress tests done 2ce a week for the past couple months so there is great comfort in knowing they have been keeping such a close eye on him. Anyway, I think I could ramble on about this all day. My mind is going a million miles a minute. I am really looking forward to tomorrow! My mom and Sam's mom are driving to Utah right now... it will be great to have them here. Lets just hope I can make it through today- and the next time I post something I will be able to show you pictures of the newest Maxfield!! Lots of Love.. Brooke.

Happy Birthday Sam!!

2010-04-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Sam's birthday. Even though we had school and work, I think it was a great day! We went to a yummy place for dinner in Salt Lake and then went to the Jazz game. The company we work for gave us some great tickets so we got to sit really close and we had so much fun! I am so thankful to have such a sweet and easy going husband. We have so much fun together no matter what we are doing! I only took a few pictures on his b-day... for some reason at 7 months pregnant getting my picture taken is not my favorite thing in the world. I have not gained all that much weight- but I do feel quite swollen, especially in my face. I do not mind however because I know that our little boy is more than worth anything I may be going through now! We can't wait!!

Happy Birthday Sam... I love you!

24 Weeks & Counting

2010-02-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

Life has been great. My belly is slowly getting bigger and I can feel our sweet baby boy kicking all the time. I love him so much. Sam can feel him now which he loves. Sometimes I just like to lay in bed at night and feel him moving all around. He is such a joy already. We had a wonderful Valentines Day together. I love Valentines Day... I love my husband more. Sam has stayed busy with school and recently started working part-time at the same place I work. I never thought I would love work so much... we now get to have lunch together everyday and see each other even more than we did before, which I am very happy about! This weekend we might be lucky enough to have some visitors from Arizona... my mom, my sister, and my sisters precious girls. I am so excited! I hope everyone is doing well-

Here is a picture of the travel system we bought... its much cuter in person though. I am already a neurotic mother that had to buy the car seat that has the highest safety ratings, even though it meant a bigger price tag. Oh dear....

We Are Alive!

2009-12-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

It's sure been a long time since our blog has been updated, but I thought I would at least post some pictures from Thanksgiving. This is my very favorite time of year. Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday, with Christmas in a close second. We were lucky enough to visit Arizona for Thanksgiving and spend time with both of our amazing families. Man how I love our families. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky to be born into such a wonderful family...and even luckier to marry into another wonderful family! Here are some pictures from our little trip (Sorry there are so many!)

As you can see, we had a great time! Thanksgiving was so much fun and we of course ate a delicious Thanksgiving feast made by my favorite mother-in-law. We were able to be there for 2 of my favorite peoples birthdays: Jake and my Mom. I was also able to be there for Bethany's baby shower... I am so excited to met my little niece! Bethany is going to be induced tomorrow night- I am so sad I cant be there but I expect LOTS of pictures. Mom thats your job. We already miss everyone so much and are really looking forward to Christmas when we will get to come down again!

Life in Utah is great- its getting colder by the second and its completely WHITE outside due to all the snow. We are loving our new house (I will post pictures soon) and are just enjoying life. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and feeling really good. We just cant wait to meet our little baby! Sorry its been so long...

Love You All,

BROOKE

Farmers Market

2009-08-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday at a park near our house there is a Farmers Market. We have seen it several times and I have always wanted to go.... so this morning we got up and walked over. It was so much fun! I love things like that. There were little booths set up all around the park and people were selling the most random things you could think of. We ended up getting some delicious tacos. They were just like the ones in Mexico! After that we decided to walk down Center street...it was so fun walking in all the little shops. I think that we have found a new Saturday tradition! As you can see from the pictures, it was a cold day here in Provo. I cannot believe that I am wearing a sweat shirt in August...it just doesn't seem right! Anyway, we loved the Farmers Market and we will definitely go back next week!

Life

2009-07-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Life has been pretty crazy lately! Here are a few updates :

1. We moved! We moved out of our tiny one bedroom apartment into a bigger 2 bedroom place. We love it! We now have lots more room and a yard... we are very happy here and love all of our neighbors and the ward.

2. We went to Lake Powell! It was my first time ever going there and I absolutely loved it- it was beautiful. Sams family was so nice to take us there. My doctor told me that I could not get in the water, but I loved laying on the boat and working on my tan. My mother-in-law even got up on a wakeboard... impressive!

3. My Dad and little brother Kevin came up to Utah to visit us. We always have so much fun when they are here- We really miss our families (hint hint... come see us!!) Dad, thanks for spoiling us so much!

4. We bought our very own WASHER and DRYER!!!! I know it sounds silly but I never thought I would be so excited to do our laundry at home. Where we lived before we had to take it to a little room all the way across the apartment complex-- not fun (especially in the winter)

5. I got a new position at work-- I am now a "full time trainer" I have a big classroom with a giant white board and I train all of the new Stores Online employees. I was really nervous at first because I dont like to be in front of a class but it has taught me leadership skills and has actually been really fun. I feel like a school teacher... I have to give all of the students homework and grade their tests. Its been a really good thing for me.

6. Sam is currently on summer break and is finally able to relax and spend sometime for himself. He always works so hard in school and I am glad that he is now able to do things that he enjoys.

7. We have become addicted to going to the gym everyday together. My amazing job gives us free memberships to Golds Gym. It feels so good to work out everyday... Lets hope we can keep it up!

8. We are going to Arizona next week and can hardly wait!!! From there we will be going to California with Sams family for a little vacation. I cannot wait to just lay on the beach an relax! While we are there we will get to go to our friends Logan and Lisa's wedding... it will be great- we are counting down the days.

9. This Saturday is our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!! I cant believe we have already been married a year... time seems to go so fast! I am just so thankful to have such a wonderful husband. A year is nothing compared to forever :)

Here are just a few pictures from Lake Powell. In the move we lost our camera so I wasnt able to take pictures of our new home or when my dad and Kev were here.

~Going Private~

2009-06-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

We are going to be making our blog private pretty soon. Leave me your email if you want to continue reading our blog. Thanks!!

GOLF

2009-06-07T19:06:00.000-07:00

*Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden-- Sam taught me that this is what golf stands for.
*Last week we went golfing twice. You cant see in the pictures but I had a very cute pink ball that Sam's grandpa gave me... that was my favorite part!

*The last time I went golfing was in AZ and in the middle of the summer... it was very hot and I was trying to learn so it made it kind of frustrating.
*This time the weather was absolutely perfect and we were able to just have a fun time together. I really am no good and prefer not to keep score- but I had fun so thats all that matters!

*I am so thankful that I have a patient husband. He is a really good golfer and I held him up quite a bit but he was such a good sport!

*We went on a busy day and had to wait at each tee box for the people in front of us to finish so we had lots of time to take pictures....

May

2009-05-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

We went down to Arizona again... and had a blast! We always love when we get to go down and see everyone...

And I have some very exciting news~~

SAM GOT ACCEPTED INTO THE BYU ACCOUNTING PROGRAM!!!!!!!

I cant tell you how excited we are... he has been working very hard and we were really anxious to find out. It is a super competitive program, and I am so proud of Sam :) That means about 4 more years of living in Provo...woo hoo!!

Time to Catch Up!

2009-05-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been so much fun! For starters, we were able to go home to AZ to see our family and friends. As always, it was really nice to see everyone and to hang out with family. Chris and Julie were married on April 25th and I am so glad that we were able to be there for the wedding!! She looked absolutely gorgeous, and I am just so happy for them!

I wish that we would have been better about taking pictures when we were there. All of these are ones that I stole from other peoples cameras..

Today Sam and I went to Timpanogos... we hiked to the top and took a tour of the caves... it was so much fun! It was however a wake up call that I really need to get into better shape :)

I just have to say that I LOVE being married to my best friend in the world... he makes me laugh so much and I just love every little thing about him. I was telling him today that I am so sad that time is going so fast and that I want it to slow down... good thing we have forever!!

By the way, Sam just applied to the BYU accounting program about a week ago!! I am so proud of him and we can't wait to find out if he gets in... Im not too worried about him seeing how smart he is. We will find out in 30-60 days!!

nieces and nephews ...

2009-04-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

These are some of the people that I miss the very most... my sweet nieces and nephews!! I must say... they are VERY cute :) I have been missing them so much lately, and when I came across these pictures I had to post them!

MAX

KAMBRIE

JAXSON

EDEN

BOSTON

Fun Surprise...

2009-04-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

Well I don't have any pictures but I wanted to brag for a second about my sweet husband. Yesterday I got home from work and Sam told me that he had a surprise for me....

He had dinner all cooked and packed up into a bag and he had a blanket in his hand. He took me up into the most beautiful park in the mountains and we had a romantic picnic for dinner!

We had such a good time up there and it was GORGEOUS!! We just ate dinner and talked and laughed. It is my new favorite place and I told Sam that I am going to make him take me there all the time now :)

Anyway, I just couldn't believe how thoughtful and creative it was and I had to write a little bit about it. I grabbed our camera on the way out, but then realized that it had a dead battery.

Pictures or not, it was by far my favorite date that we have been on, and I loved every second of it! Thank you Sam!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

2009-04-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Sam's 22nd birthday. I love him so much and I am so happy that I got to spend the day with him. He is so funny and always knows just what to say to make me laugh.We had the greatest day together just hanging out and doing all the things that Sam loves. I kind of went over-board with everything, but his last 2 birthdays were spent in Argentina, so he deserved it! Happy Birthday Sam!

This was Sam as a little boy... isn't he adorable?!

Sam and his younger brother Zach...

We of course had to go bowling on his birthday!

I wish that I would have taken more pictures yesterday, but I never remember to bring the camera! Also, these last few pictures are of our new "baby" :) For my birthday a few months ago Sam gave me a fish bowl and we finally got around to actually getting the fish! We named him Clancy :)

Spring Break!

2009-03-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend my family came to visit us for spring break! It was so much fun to spend time with everyone...

Here we are on our couch... just hanging out :)

This is my niece Kambrie

On Friday night we went to Tucanos- it was soo good!

Annie and Kambrie had a sleep over at our place

Saturday morning we went and watched Sam play football

Then we went to Salt Lake City and

walked around. We had lunch at the

Lion House and took a tour of Brigham

Youngs house. It was so neat.

Saturday night we ordered pizza and

watched the DUKE game!! (Can you tell

who we were cheering for??)

Thanks for such a fun weekend!!!

2009-03-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

Not much has happened lately but I wanted to update the blog with a few pictures from the last few months... Sam and I are doing great. I think that we are both ready for the snow to be gone and for the sun to come out! Sam is doing really well in school, and continues to AMAZE me with how hard he studies. Sometimes it's hard because our schedules are so different and there are those days where I barely get to see him... but I know that won't last forever! (At least it better not)! We are getting really excited to come home in April for Chris and Julies wedding!! It's always nice to have a reason to come home to see our families. I am just crossing my fingers that it will be sunny and that I can lay out and get some sun. Here are some pictures that have been taken over the last little while...

I got my hair cut!

The Provo Temple

A while ago Trey and Amber came up to visit us

and we had sooo much fun with them!! Thanks

again guys!

GO CARDINALS!!!

2009-01-19T20:34:00.000-08:00

We would like the world to know that the ARIZONA CARDINALS are headed to the Super Bowl. Yesterday we were jumping all around our apartment yelling and screaming as we kicked the Eagles butt. It was a beautiful sight to behold as Larry Fitzgerald had three touchdown catches and for the first time in franchise history (at least since they've been in Arizona) the Cardinals will be in the Super Bowl. Go Cards!!

-Sam

Happy New Year!

2009-01-12T11:53:00.000-08:00

I love the start of a new year! It is always so much fun to make goals and to work on them through out the year. Sam and I have lots of goals for 2009...I have a feeling it will be a great year!

I havn't posted anything on our blog for a long time. We don't have a working camera so I don't have any new pictures to share. I thought I would still write a little bit about what we have been up to lately. We had SO much fun going home for Christmas and seeing our families. We are so lucky to have two amazing families to speand time with. Our trips never seem long enough but anytime that we get to be there we love. The Maxfields came up here for New Years and took us snowboarding... it was so much fun and I was sore for days :) Last week we started back up with school and work. Sam is taking some tough classes this semester but we are so excited because he will be able to apply to the accounting program at BYU in a couple of months! I started a new work schedule where I work from 10-7. I am not liking it very much but I am grateful that I have such a good job. Sam has been very sweet and making dinner for me, so that part I have loved! We honestly couldn't be happier. Life is so great... nothing too exciting but just great. We will be getting a new camera soon, so we'll be sure to share our pictures when we do :)

It's been a while...

2008-11-15T19:17:00.001-08:00

It has been a while since my last post. Things with us just couln't be better. We are loving it up here in Utah and are VERY excited about coming home next week :) We can't wait to see our families! Since it has been so long we have quite a few pictures.....

Here we are at Nicklecade... its a place where every game costs a nickel! What a fun date that was:)

I thought that I could beat Sam in a car race..

.....Boy was I wrong!!
This was last Sunday when we went for a walk. I LOVE the fall leaves

Gotta have the hoods when it starts to RAIN!
This is us in the car....
Outside the apartment
The last BYU home game :( My favorite is the guy in the backround!

Walking to the football stadium

In our little apartment :)

Ok, this is me...Sam. Brooke always talks about her blog and i told her that i would write something, so here it goes. Life is good, Brooke is cute and school is hard. It's fun to be up here in Utah, but we miss AZ and the nice weather. I'm really happy cause Duke basketball is under way and they are looking like quite a good team this year. I'm also really happy that the Arizona Cardinals are winning, go team! Well that's all from me...oh yeah, and I love Brooke a ton!

Birthday!

2008-10-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Monday was my birthday... and it sure was fun! This weekend my mom and little sister Annie decided to drive up here to see us. It was such a surprise and made me soo happy. I was able to spend my birthday with my sweet husband and with family! I am one lucky girl. Sam was so sweet to me for my birthday and really spoiled me :) I loved all of the gifts but mostly I just loved spending time with him! This was the first birthday from the last 4 years that he has been able to celebrate with me. I love him so much. And on top of that I was able to see my mom and Annie. I really did have a such a fun weekend!

2008-10-15T12:05:00.001-07:00

My sisters have informed me that now that I am married its time to start blogging. I guess I'll give it a try. Sam and I were married on July 18th and just recently moved up to Utah so he could go to BYU. I am definitely an Arizona girl and am FREEZING up here! Married life is so much fun and I love speding all my time with my best friend. Sam and I started dating in High School but then he went up to BYU for a year. After that he left on his mission. We were apart for 3 years! I am so happy now that we are finally able to be together... forever! I have been missing my family so much lately and am so excited to come home for Thanksgiving. Im especially missing my nieces and nephews. I am the first from my family to move out of state so this is quite different. Every Sunday around 5:00 I get really sad because I know that my family is getting together for dinner. Luckily I have Sam so its okay. We have a fun little apartment up here and just spend our time going to school, working, and watching Prison Break. (We started renting the seasons....we're hooked). Life is great. It will be fun to start blogging :)