love lOvE LoVe LOVE my husband!

I literally have the best husband ever! Wednesday night I had a sahm (stay at home mom) meltdown, complete with wailing and gnashing of teeth. Thursday he came home with a cricket! Not the noisy bug, but a wonderful scrapbook tool that cuts out words and imagines. The wonderful man took the money he earned from his Intern job and bought it for me! He brought it home for me so that I can "use my talents and make things for people that need it" What an amazing man I married. Naturally the last couple of days I have been making crafty things like crazy. Here is a sample of the some cards I've made.

Wait it gets better. Today I went to a baby shower and when I came home the entire house was clean. Our bed was made, clothes picked up, Kirstens room straightened up, bathroom clean (and no man likes to clean the bathroom!), and dishes done! He is simply the best. I love you so much Kirk!Kirsten is still beautiful (of course!). She made her first attempts at army crawling this week!

Best Anniversary Ever!

We had an awesome anniversary! It was filled with romance, just the way we like it! Kirk brought home the most beautiful flowers...3 for the number of years we've been married. He also wrote the best poem that made me cry (I would say he cried to, but I don't want to embarrass him). When he got home from school I had our house covered in candles. With romantic music playing it was the perfect atmosphere for some dancing. We had a candlelit dinner complete with sparkling cider. Kirsten did her part in celebrating our anniversary and went to bed at 5:00 and slept all night long...isn't she the best! I made Kirk this picture frame. I'm not sure you can see the quote but it says "I made a wish and you came true" which is exactly how I feel about my studly husband.
For our anniversary I wrote down some of my favorite memories of the summer we started dating. I thought I would share (I couldn't decide which one to post, you'll have to suffer with a couple memories):

You asked me for a haircut. Chalice and I had been cutting boys hair for about year, so I was pretty confident….apparently I shouldn’t have been. I cut your hair probably a little shorter than you would have liked. (My mom felt so bad for you when you left our house with “that terrible haircut” and she wouldn’t have blamed you for never talking to me again). Josh was there and you and him then boxed with boxing gloves. Of course you got a bloody nose and had blood all over your shirt. You went home and Levi asked you what happened? You explained that you and Josh were boxing and he said “no, to your hair!”

My mother depised you with a passion. My aunt Janet had told her what kind of a kid you were and that scared the bajeebies out of my mother. Then of course you were naked at graduation and made me push you in a wheelchair! She was not impressed AT ALL. The night after we hiked to the top of Remember the Main we both knew it was time you met my parents…sigh. I was really nervous. Really Really REALLY nervous….for apparently no reason. You showed my Dad your truck and the engine you rebuilt and he was sold. My mother fell in love with you when you handed me your jacket because I “looked cold” (we were 20 feet away from my jacket, but you gave me yours) you are so kind.

You were away on a soccer trip when I came up with the brilliant idea to leave a note in your truck. So during weight lifting Chalice and I went out to your truck to leave the note for you. We opened the door and to our great surprise a very loud car alarm went off. Thinking the cops would be showing up soon, Chalice and I sprinted to my car were we dived into the backseat, hiding until the alarm stopped. Knowing the police weren’t going to show, we opened your truck and left the note. Totally ignoring the REALLY loud alarm…a small crowd gathered outside of the school to see what was going on, but we ignored them too.

Lunch: you would take me out to lunch often. One day you asked me out, came and picked me up, and we went to A&W, we were in the drive through when you realized that you didn’t have your wallet (I didn’t bring any money either!). We went back to my house, but my parents were out of town and I was not to have any boys in the house. So you sat on the porch while I made you lunch…I kept the door open so you were not completely abandoned. The problem was my parents were out of town aka we had no food. So I told you that I was going to make you a family favorite…honey and jam sandwiches (totally made that up)! You loved the sandwiches while I had a plain jam sandwich…he he he.

Running the River: We went down the river with the Olsen side of your family. All the girls were in one raft and the boys in the other. I was the only girl in the boy boat, because I wanted to be as close as possible to your hot body. You had one paddle and I had the other. I paddled 5 times for one of yours. We were coming to a really big rock and I was the only one paddling my guts out to save us. Unfortunately for all of us, I was unknowingly (actually I was the only one who didn't know) rowing us closer to the rock. Luckily, your uncle Greg was the only one to fall in when we hit the rock.

Third Anniversary

Kirk and I went on our first date after some innocent but intense flirting in seminary. We went repelling and had a blast. I remember thinking it was really cool that there was never a lull in our conversation and how that is how the first date with my future husband would be...never thinking I would never marry a Howcroft! Kirk asked me to walk the graduation line with him (which was still 7 weeks away). Well we chatted in seminary from there but didn't date again until that fateful date, one week before graduation, when he had me push him to the lake in a wheel chair...the nerve.

So we dated all summer (he was a gentle man and didn't kiss me for a month). Then in August I left for college but not before he dropped the L bomb. I thought we were just having a summer fling, but if he was in love....so he went to Washington and we both dated other people.

Summer before his mission I came home and we dated and fell madly in love. Then he left...while I cried for 5 months. I finally got over him about the time that he got over the new missionary thing and started missing me. So we went back and forth; I would like him then he would like me. We were never on the same page at the same time. Then on Valentines day 2005 he sent me 7 white roses and 3 red roses. With a beautiful poem that said:

Three are Red,
Seven are White.
What an odd number
Ten can't be right

Just send a Dozen,
Your probably saying.
Well, read on...
And I guess you will see!!!

Alright enough rhyming, I'm not good at it. I'll just tell you in plain ol english. I had to be
creative with my idea. So, I figured I'd use this awesome book I got for Christmas!!

The Symbols:
3--is the symbol for Unity, becoming one with our Father in Heaven
7--is the symbol for Perfection, on the Seventh day God rested
RED--is the symbol for Love, typically related to the Love that Christ
showed us in the Atonement
WHITE--is the symbol for Light, purity, truth...

So...
What better way could I explain the Unity that Love brings to all mankind, especially this time of year. Also telling you of my knowledge of the perfection of the restored truth that I share with
these wonderful people of Georgia. Finally, without you even knowing, 10 means complete, telling you that the Love that brought us together really is true, pure, and definitely perfect, But you didn't hear the meaning of that from me :)!!!

I really just wanted to say I LOVE YOU!!

so, I was pretty much smitten from there and immediately started planning our wedding.Kirk came home June 2, 2005. He kissed me within 1/2 hour of being released by the stake president and we were unofficially engaged within 24 hours, thanks to my Dad embarrassing me calling Kirk my husband therefore resulting in a DTR.June 20, 2005 Kirk and I drove up Dry Fork Canyon. There we stopped and climbed on top of a 20 foot rock. Kirk then says "Wow you can seeing everything from here (sure honey)...I bet you didn't see this though" and he gets down on his knee and then we make out and now we are officially engaged!

We are married 3 months later on September 22, 2005 in the Salt Lake Temple. It's the best day of either of our lives and we have been happily married since.It's cheesy but true, I love Kirk more every year we are together. He makes me laugh like no one else can. He makes me want to be a better wife and mother through his example. But mostly he is my favorite person ever and I am SO excited to be with him for forever!

They are In!

Last night Kirk and I were falling asleep, Kirk had already slipped into subconsciousness and I was just about there when I shot up and said "guess what?!" This of course got his attention and so I explained that I had not wiped Kirsten's nose at all that day...or the day before! It's official. Her two bottom teeth are completely in! No more runny nose, grumpiness, being clingy, high pitched screams in the middle of the night...she's all better! And we are all
so happy!

The Sweet moments of Motherhood

Messy High Chair

Freshly Bathed

Talking while folding Laundry

Nap time

Our favorite BYU cougar

New Callings

So Kirk and I both have new callings. I'm a part of the enrichment committee and he is the second counselor of the Elders Quorum Presidency (or as he would put it, he is Dwight (cause he is the assistant to the President..not assistant president)).

We are both excited to be serving, especially me since I haven't had a calling (besides visiting teacher, which is the most important) for 6 months.

But the call from the secretary of the ward (or in Kirk's case stake) asking if you can meet with the bishop is really unnerving. Every possible calling runs through your head and I know I especially get really really nervous. I was ready to be about anything (except the ward choirister, never again) but am really glad I will still be able to stay in relief society on Sundays.

The men Kirk are serving with are really awesome. And their wives are even more awesome...so I am looking forward to hanging out with the wives while the men fulfill their callings!

Kirsten's Six Month Pictures!

Isn't she adorable!

Why are there two stroller in my living room?

Monday I went running and one tire on the jogging stroller went flat, yesterday we went for a walk to the park in the Graco stroller. When we got home Kirk started working on the flat tire while I took Kirsten inside to put her down for nap...thinking Kirk would put the stroller away like he always does. Last night before going to bed I peeked outside and both strollers are outside................... IN THE RAIN!
We realize it's a mistake and leave them to dry during the night. Well it rained all night. So we went running today and Kirk said it was going to be a warm day so we left them outside again to dry.
So it rained this afternoon and now I have two strollers drying safely in my living room.

Six months!

Kirsten turned 6 months old today! She has gone from thisTo this! I can't believe how quickly time has gone
Kirsten, there are so many things I love about you, here are a few

• love that you always kick your legs whenever you are excited about anything
• love that you grin for strangers...but hold a straight face for the ones that want to see your smile most (your extended family)
• love that you pick on your Dad...whenever you come to bed with us you constantly grab Dad's face, no matter how he tries to restrain you
• love that you freak out when we blow on your neck
• love that when I talk to your Dad on speakerphone you search the room for him
• love that you share icecream sandwhiches with us
• love that you chew on the bottom of your dresses(I'll teach you about modesty later)
• love that you never hold still...even in your sleep we have to swaddle you to get you to sleep, but you are always upside down on the other side of your crib out of your blankets and still fast asleep an hour later.
• love that you always want to be with your Mom and Dad
• love that you sleep through the night
• love that you are happy 95% of the time and passionately expressing your opinions the other 5%
• wonder why you don't like fruit...only you would love just vegetables
  
• love that you always wake up happy
• my favorite is when you stick your lips together and blow noisy
  

Mostly I love you! I love that we get to be your parents. You are the sweetest little miss attitude I've ever known and I love being your mom.