Winter 2012

Hello friends and family who actually read our blog!

I just have to say that I love this time of year! I love the Spirit it brings, and I love how happy everyone is!

I guess I'll start with the biggest news, Victor and I got a new niece on the 14th! Gwendalyn Elizabeth (Middle name after me) Granneman was born on December 14! She's a cutie for sure! Ben is such a good big brother to her! I hope that they stay close, like Jake and I were! I can already tell that Gwen has Jacob wrapped around her little finger! It's a good thing he's such a good dad!

Victor and I got our Christmas tree, we had it all decorated, and then it fell over! haha. We spend an hour last night trying to get it to stand up straight, and we finally ended up tying it down. It's stories like these that we will one day tell our kids!

For Christmas this year we will be going up north to Payson on Christmas Eve, Highland Christmas morning, and then Orem Christmas night! I'm so excited to see everyone! I have missed my family so much since we got married and moved down here! I also got some very exciting news the other day, that one of my friends who has been MIA for the last 2 years or so, is back! I'm so excited to see her! We were so close, and it was really hard when she left! I'm so glad she's back, and doing well!

New years eve, maybe we'll have friends down for a party (Mtn. Dew, and chocolate) and movies/games! It should be fun!

I hope you're all doing well!



Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Just for Holly

Well Holls,
 Here is a post for ya!

What have we been up to? Here's a quick re-cap

• We got our Christmas tree on Sunday, and got it decorated! I love Christmas time, and I love decorating our house for the season!
• We repainted our house. We went from a blue color, to a tan color! The blue was just too hard to match things to. We LOVE the new color!
• Victor got his cow elk! I LOVE elk meat! It's so yummy! Tonight we're having an elk roast!
• Victor has been busy with Search and Rescue! I love that he's so willing to help other people, but sometimes I worry about him, and what he sees!
• My Mom and dad came down for about a week for Thanksgiving! It was so nice having them here! I can't wait for them to move here! Aaron, Marci, & Rex came down for the day! It was so much fun having family down here.
• I'm going up north this weekend to spend sometime with Victor's family! We are going to Temple Square to see the lights, and to do some shopping! It's going to be so nice! A much needed Girls night or two!
• I'm getting close to being done with Victor's Christmas present! I'm just over 2/3 of the way done, but I probably won't finish it for Christmas. It might turn into a Valentines day present! Oh well, As long as I finish it, I'll be happy!

I think that's pretty much it!

Dramaless life

Well,
 It's been a week since I've stayed off the drama that is FACEBOOK. It has been SOOOOO nice! It's not consuming all of my time. I feel like I've been a better wife for my much deserving husband, I either have dinner done by the time he gets home, or at least started. The other day I shampooed our carpets, and did dinner, all because I haven't been wasting all of my time on facebook. In the mornings, instead of checking it, I read the news, or my scriptures while I eat breakfast, and it's amazing how much better my days go. I do miss catching up with everyone, but this is a much needed break from it.
This coming weekend is going to be a busy one! Marci and little Rex are coming down to help me go through the rest of our in-laws house so it will be ready for the renters to move in, and then I work on Saturday. Then my mom and dad might come down and visit, and we may have one of Victor's buddys down for a visit as well. It's a good thing we got a house with a spare room so all of these people actually have somewhere to stay! haha. I'm also hoping to be able to work on Victor's Christmas present a little bit this weekend. I can't believe Christmas is only 8 weeks away. I gotta get my butt in gear if I want to finish it by Christmas. EEK!
Anyways, that's it for now! :)

Sanity

I have decided that I will be blogging more, and facebooking less. I have actually deactivated my facebook account due to my sanity. I need a little break from the drama that is facebook. I have also decided that the most important people in our lives, are the ones that like to read our blog. So thanks to you!
These last few months have been CRAZY! Here's a quick recap

• For the 4th of July we went up north to visit family! It was so much fun seeing everyone again.
• August was my dad's birthday, but luck him, he had to have his galbaldder removed on his 60th birthday. Poor guy.
• September was a busy month. We went on our anual trip to Vegas, and this time it was non-eventful. No getting sick (at least not bug sick) no toothaches, and no getting lost! It was delightful. We went to the wax mesuem this time, and it was a lot of fun. Victor even got into take pictures with the people. It was awesome!
• Also in September was hunting season. My mom and dad came down for a visit, and my dad went out hunting with Victor and I! I was so close to getting my first deer, but I missed it by 6 inches because I stupid ATV came up the road and scared it! :(
• We went camping quite a few times in September! It was awesome! I forgot how much I loved camping! We haven't really gone for a while.
• We also went to Zion's with my in-laws! It was a fun last trip before they left on their mission for Jamacia, but more about that later!
• The last 2-3 weeks of September were spent helping my in-laws pack and clean their house so they can rent it out while they are gone. It was a lot of work, but I think we did a good job!
• The first weekend in October, we went up north to have one last dinner, or what was supposed to be a last dinner, with Rex and Cathie before they headed off to Jamacia! It was so nice to have the family together. We got famiy pictures (Well most of the family, we were missing one sibling) and had lots of fun. That night, when we said good-bye I cried like a baby! Everytime I thought about them not being there, I would cry! But we are so excited for them. The next weekend, I ended up going back up north to take them a suit they needed for the MTC, so then I had to say good-bye all over again. but this time it was a bit easier, probably because I thought I would see them once more, which I didn't. But, I was okay with it, because I didn't want to have to say good-bye for a third time!
• We also are watching Rex and Cathie's dog, Buddy, while they are gone. The poor thing misses his home. He got out of the yard last week, and, it took him an hour, but he found his way home. He was sitting on the back deck when we finally found him. I think Dash drives him a little crazy!
• Last week, Victor went on a cow elk hunt, and filled his tag! I was so excited for him! Yay for having meat in the freezer! Him and his buddy, who also had a tag, each got one that day, and they were only like 100 yards from each other! it was an exciting day for sure!
• These past few days I have had crafts on the brain, so I keep fixing littling things around the house. I have finished decorating our table for fall, and we put a tile backsplash behind our stove to give it a finished look, and I have also made a new towel rack for our bathroom. This weekend, I'm hoping to shampoo our carpets, and go finish cleaning the in-laws house before the renters move in next week.

Our Table for the fall

our tile backsplash

So that's a little bit about what has been going on with us. I will be blogging a lot more in the near future, so check back! :)

Lessons learned

This post is more just for me to get my thoughts straightened out, but if you have thoughts or advice, I would love to hear it.
I've been thinking a whole lot lately about what I'm supposed to be learning from things that have been going on. First, I'm pretty sure that somewhere down the road, I will need A LOT of patience. It seems like everything in my life right now is teaching me patience of some sort or another. From waiting for my car to get here, to waiting for my hubby to jump on the baby train, to dealing with our 4 year olds without ripping my hair out, it all comes back to one thing...my lack of PATIENCE. Victor tried to teach me patience while I waited for him to propose...but looking back, I realized that he was right to wait...so is he right to wait before we jump on the baby train?! He always seems to know more than I do...I would like to think it's the Lord giving him inspiration for our family, but sometimes I think he's just stubborn, and just wants to wait, because people keep pushing him (and by people I mean ME)
I didn't think it would be too hard to wait a couple of years for a baby, but now that the time is here, It's breaking my heart to wait. Everytime I take a birth control pill, I just want to curl up in a ball and cry. It doesn't help that everyone around me is getting pregnant, or having babies, or saying stuff about their babies, things like "my baby rolled over for the first time." or "my baby slept through the night." Don't get me wrong, I love our life together, I couldn't ask for a better husband, or life. He has provided me with such an amazing life, I'm really so lucky....I just feel like we're missing something. but it comes back to the patience. When the Lord wants it to happen, it will happen...I just have to keep telling myself that. When my life is supposed to get crazy busy, it will. But I just wish it was happening now. I'm ready for that next chapter in our lives. It may be my husband that is keeping it from happening physically, but I know that the Lord has his hand in everything. That is the one thing that is keeping me from going totally crazy...if the Lord wanted it to happen...it would...even if I am taking the pill.
GAH....so confused.
On to my 4 year olds....I love my primary class, the kids are so cute, and they all have their own personalities...that's for sure. but once again, I keep thinking, "what am I supposed to be learning from the calling?" I sure hope the Lord doesn't have 9 kids up there for me...but even if he did...I'm pretty sure they all wouldn't be 4...! haha. Like I said, I love the kiddos, they are just hard for me to deal with sometimes.
Anyways, I'm sorry to vent to you, but like I said, if you have any words of wisdom, or advice...it would come in handy! I'm not sure what the Lord has in store for my life, but I would like to think that he's preparing me for whatever it is, and all of this will come into play one day.
Thanks! :)

My Birthday

Why hello there!
This past week was an eventful one for sure! Wednesday we went up to a new BBQ in town (and by town I mean like 30-40 miles away) for my birthday dinner! It was super yummy! Then We headed over to my in-laws for cake and ice cream! My wonderful Mother-In-Law searched high and low for the new Carrie Underwood CD for me! I was so excited! That was the one thing I really wanted, so I was super excited! My Mom and Dad also sent me a card with a check in it to "pamper" myself which means I'm finally getting my hair colored! I'm so excited! Friday can't come fast enough! Thursday, which was my actual birthday started out with a big hug and kiss from my hubby! It doesn't get much better than that! Starting the day off with the one person you love more than life! GREAT! I came to work and got a cute little teddy bear, and some flowers from the people I work with! Victor then called and said if I wanted my present, I had to go visit him on my lunch break.....so I did! He bought me a new pair of Oakley sunglasses! They are awesome! I've been needing some new ones for a while now, since the ones I had were like 5 years old, and they pulled my hair out every time I wore them! They are dang cute! I'm so spoiled!


My pretty new car!

Around 3:00 on Thursday, I got a call from Classic Motors, the car dealership we went through to get my new car, saying it was going to be here by 6:00 for sure! We were so excited, and just in time to wind up a great day! BUT 6:00 comes, and I still haven't heard. They then called at like 6:15 saying it was here, but the guy that needed to look over it and make sure everything was working right went home at 6:00. I was so bummed...but I still had a great weekend to look forward to! We were going camping up at Fishlake for Victor's Search and Rescue conference! It was sure to be a good time! Free food, lots of people with guns, and out in the woods. FUN! On the way up we saw a Moose! We were so excited! There aren't a lot of them around here, so we had to stop and take pictures, but the darn thing kept turning his butt to us, so I didn't get a good one! We finally got to our campsite just as dark hit, and my awesome husband, told me to stay in the truck while he got everything set up! We couldn't find our bug spray just yet, and he knows I can't not scratch bites....so I stayed in the truck! It was so nice just being up there, with no cell phones, no facebook, just us, and my in-laws. It was great fun! We went to the conference, and learned a lot. Lifeflight came in, and took a couple people around the lake, and that was awesome to watch! We ate lots of free food, and froze our butts of! It was wonderful!


our new touch screen music
system!

On Saturday we decided we were going to come home early so we could get the car and figure out how to use everything! We got the navigation system, and I had NO idea how to use it! So we spent a couple hours in there figuring out how to use everything! I'm in LOVE with this car! We had it custom built just for us, in fact, there is a paper in the glove box that says "This car was specifically built for Victor Murdock." SOOO cool! It was on my bucket list, to buy a BRAND new car! I was so excited! The car had 10 miles on it when we got it. I think we're up to like 86 now because we had to take it out, then we had to take Victor's parents out! it's so much fun!
On Sunday, we seriously slept more than we've slept in a LONG time! Saturday night we were in bed by 9:30, and we both slept through our alarm, and didn't get up till 9:30...then after we went and taught our primary class we went home and slept for another 4 or 5 hours! Then we were in bed again by 9:30 last night! haha, oh well, we needed it!


Anyways, I hope you all have a great week! :)

Catch up

Well, first I need to say sorry to the people that actually read our blog. I didn't know anybody really read it until Trent gave me crap for not posting. So here is my catch up post since it's been a few months since I posted last!
I don't even know where to begin!
First, Victor had a birthday party on May 5, yes it was a Cinco De Mayo party! It was complete with a pinata, and a cake with the colors of the Mexico flag! It was so much fun! We had quiet a few people come down for It and it was so nice to see everyone! Victor got a hot chocolate maker (he's been wanting one for like a year now) and he got some new camo for hunting this year!
Which reminds me, I finished my hunters education, and put in for the deer hunt, and actually drew out! Victor got a tag as well, so we're super excited! Now, I gotta get to shootin bow. I'm a pretty good shot from about 20 yards, but something tells me I'm gonna have to shoot farther than that. haha. My dad is planning on coming down and taking me out for the season, so I'm excited about that! :)
We had my mom and dad come for a visit over mothers day! It was so much fun. I took an extra day off of work, and just relaxed before the craziness that is Memorial Day came at work.
Yay for Memorial day coming up in less than a week. After that I might actually have a brain again! haha.
We also ordered a brand new car that should be here by the 4th of June! What a great birthday present for me! haha. I'm so dang excited to get it! It will be my first car that has had cruise control, ever! haha. I'm kinda behind the time!
I have also started playing on a Co-Ed softball team with the people I work with! It is so much fun. I've only got to play 2 games because on the second week, I pulled a couple muscles and had to sit out the next week, but hopefully this week I will be able to get back out there! We have such a good time. A lot of teams are super serious, but we're just there to have some fun!


Well....that's kinda a quick update on our lives. This weekend I'm heading up north to go relax after this crazy week at work. We'll be going to the zoo, and to an air show, so it will be lots of fun. I will take lots of pictures, so stay tuned! I promise that it won't take me another few months to post again! :)

Just the 3 of us

I just need to vent for a minute....and then I'll get to the fun stuff!
When Victor and I got engaged, we discussed when we want to have a kid, and we said that we would wait a year, and then "talk about it." Well, that year has turned into 1 year 8 months and 3 days, and we're still not "talking about it." I'm getting so frustrated. I feel like I am beyond ready to hop on the baby train, but apparently he's not. The thing that is driving me the most crazy, is he won't tell me WHY he's not ready! I wouldn't mind waiting, if I just knew why he wanted to wait. So for now, it's just gonna be the 3 of us. Victor, General George Dashington, and me. Don't get me wrong, I'm am so happy with our life! He's so good to me, but I think I'm ready to have that experience. Oh well, It's happening for a reason....RIGHT?!

Can you see how uneven the ground is?

 Okay, enough of my venting! On to the fun stuff that's been going on! We have had so much going on, I'm not sure where to start!

 We are pretty much totally re-doing our backyard. We have 1/2 an acre, and it's all weeds, so we've been slowly getting it done, but I think it's time to kick it into high gear. We need to get the ground leveled out, so we can get the grass planted. but in order to do that, we need to get the patio dug out so we can use the dirt, but in order to do that we need to pick up all the little pebbles we have. It's really a never ending process. I've been out there for hours, and just looking at the ground, you would never be able to tell. We really have layers of rocks in our yard. It's quit irritating. Oh well, it gives us time to be together, and talk! I do love the conversations we have when we're out working together, growing closer together as a couple.

This is where the patio will be when we're all done

 These past couple of months, I have been up north A LOT, and I'm so happy to say that this weekend, everyone is coming down this way! YAY for Easter! I love spending time with our Nieces and Nephews, and I love going up to see my Sisters and Brothers in law, but there's just something about being able to spend the night in your own bed, and still enjoy their company! This last weekend was so much fun. River and Bronco came down to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa. While they were here we went hunting for bigfoot. Bronco, who is only 3 1/2, is OBSESSED with bigfoot. He was so cute! We found bigfoots house, but he wasn't home. Maybe next time! haha

Bronco in Bigfoot's house.

 Anyways, Thanks for listening to me vent....I feel much better now! haha Have a great Easter with your families!

Family Time

These last few weeks have been so busy, and SOOO much fun!
First, for Presidents Day (January 20) weekend we had family come to town! It was so much fun. We played silly games, and went shooting, and just spent time together! Katie, Rob and their boys came, and Aaron & Marci and their little one came down! It was so fun to see everyone.
We played a game called QUELF, and if you haven't played it, it's a must! It was so funny. I was laughing so hard I was crying, and my abs hurt a little the next day! Seriously the most fun I've had in a LONG time! TRY IT! There was dancing, magic, snorting like a pig, lots of "Izzle" being said, and TONS of laughing! I may just take it up north this weekend when I go see my parents! I can just imagine my mom playing! That will be GOOD stuff! haha.

Talon & Canyon shotting

On Monday (Presidents Day) we went shooting. Victor, Rob, Katie, and Aaron all had new guns they wanted to shoot. So we thought it would be a good day to do it. Victor and I took the day off of work, and just played. I was having an awesome target hitting day! WOOOO! We also went on a rabbit hunt. We saw a few things, but we didn't get anything. Oh well, it was still lots of fun! Cathie stayed at home with Marci and the baby, but they had fun too. They baked cookies, and just hung out! I love family gatherings! I seriously have the greatest families on this earth! I'm one lucky girl! Talon and Canyon came to support us while we were shooting. They are still a bit young, but they sure had fun. It was such a nice day out, seriously, the perfect day to do it!

Victor bought me a bow for Christmas, and we finally got the draw length set right, and the arrows cut! I'm so excited to learn how to shoot it, and get out on the mountain! I found out this last week that my dad is going to come hunting with us this summer! I'm so excited! I've always wanted to have that thing that we can do together, and now we have it! And he's super excited to be able to come with us, and help me on my first hunt! I'll be seeing my parents this weekend! It's going to be lots of fun. I haven't seen them since Jake's wedding in December so it's about time!

Dash's stitches

Dash had to have surgery yesterday. Poor guy! He had an infected lump in his head, in a very weird spot, so they just took it out! He was a trooper! He can't really play or get wet for the next 10 days, until the stitches come out, but we're so glad to know what the lump was, and to know that it's gone, and it won't come back. We were getting really worried about it since it started getting bigger, and leaking gross stuff. But he's better now, and even wanting to eat again.

Anyways, so that's what we've been up to, and seriously, if you haven't played Quelf, do it, soon. You'll love it!

Our Day of LOVE

Valentines day started a little early for us this year. Well, for me! I got bored on Friday, and decided to make little cookies that look like conversation hearts! I think they turned out way cute, and they were super yummy. I'm pretty sure I've doubled my weight eating them!

My Cookies

for the REAL Valentines day we didn't do too much. We usually don't do too much. We exchanged gifts after work, which is a lot more than we did last year! haha. Victor got me a cute shirt, and....I can't really say what I got him! :D After we did gifts, we went to dinner at Hoovers (It's tradition) with my boss, and his wife! It's so nice to be such good friends with them as well. We were all excited to see what the newly "remodeled" Hoovers looked like, but when we got there, we couldn't really tell the difference. We actually had to ask the server what they did in the month they were closed. He told us that they re-did the floors...that's it! haha. But it was GOOD. We love that place. That's where we go when we want to spoil ourselves! After dinner we took the long way home, and we went spotlighting! It was so much fun! We saw a TON of deer out there. It was pretty cool to just see their little eyes looking at us! It was fun!

In other news, Victor and I have been called to teach the 4 year olds in primary at Church! It's a lot different. I was really hoping to be called into the Young Women, but, oh well. On Sunday we started teaching them about Christ's Birthday, and then they all had to go around the room telling us their birthdays, and their sibling's birthdays! haha. I love little kids! They sure make us laugh! We have 9 kids in our class, so it's a bit overwhelming, but it's fun!

Anyways, I hope you all had a great day of love!

Blessed



my not-so-little puppy

First, I just need to say how BLESSED we are. It's so easy to take things for granted, and to forget all the good things in our lives, but it's just as easy to remember all the good things. I was talking to Victor the other day, and it hit me, just how good we have it!

• We have each other, always and forever. It's sooo nice to know that  we will ALWAYS be together.
• We have a GREAT house. We are just loving being able to fix our house up together. We love being able to call it ours, and making the repairs to prove it. This year our project is the backyard...maybe get some grass actually planted. It should be LOTS of fun. Victor wants to put a basketball court back there, along will a grill pit. I'm so excited.
• We have the cutest little puppy ever. Even though, today, he's 6 months old. I can't believe how big he's gotten. It's crazy!
• We have the Gospel in our lives. Sometimes we struggle getting to church, but when we go, it just seems like our weeks and lives are that much better! It's wonderful
• We have good health! For a while this was an issue. But we are so grateful for our health now!
• We have a great family! Both in-laws and immediate brother's and sisters, along with parents!

We Truly are blessed!

Kitchen Before

We finished painting our kitchen this weekend. The whole upstairs is done now.....except for the guest room that will, someday, be the babies room. I told Victor that I didn't want to paint it until I got pregnant, so we can match it to the bedding and stuff. We'll see what happens with that. We started painting in on Monday, but then on Tuesday I got sick, and I've been sick ever since. So Victor finished it on Wednesday. He's sooo good to me! He's been cooking dinner pretty much all week, while I've done nothing but work, and then go home and go to bed. It hasn't been a fun week, at all.

Kitchen after.

We've started his workout room downstairs, and got most of it done, but we're having a friend paint some stuff on the walls down there, so I'll post pictures as soon as we get that done. It's gonna turn out SWEET!

2011/2012 happenings

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years, because I know we sure did. SOOOO many things have happened since I posted last!

Me & Jake at his wedding

first Jake got married!!!!!! Victor and I were able to drive out to Montana to spend some time with my family before and after their wedding. They got married December 16, 2011, so we went out the 15, and came home the 18. It was a quick trip, but it was just what the doctor ordered. Victor doesn't get a lot of time off work, EVER, so it was nice. While we were there, Victor went duck hunting with my dad. I LOVE that they have bonded so much over the years that we've been together. My two favorite guys!

Me, Ben, & Victor

I also got to meet my nephew Ben for the first time while we were out there. He's such a cutie...he's a tank, but a cutie! He's almost a year old now...crazy how the time goes. We had our own little Christmas with Mom, Dad, Jake, Heather, and Ben while we were there. It was fun. We did our family traditions, meaning, we watched Home Alone, Jake and I have been doing that for EVER! We ate Orange rolls, and lots of other food. It was so nice to be with the family for a holiday!

Then after we got back, we had ANOTHER Christmas with Victor's parents and his brother and sister that were in town. It was so fun to see Richard, Naloni, and the kids! It's crazy to think that I have a niece that is 18? WOW! The kids had such a fun time opening their gifts. Christmas is always much more fun with kiddos around!

The miller girls Christmas Morning!

Then on Christmas Eve, we drove down to St. George (like 2 hours from us) to spend Christmas with Victor's other sister and her family! They have 3 little girls, who made Christmas awesome! They were so excited Christmas morning, just looking at all the gifts under the tree. It sure looked like a lot. They also got their own bikes this year. They had sooo much fun. They had a hard time getting the hang of peddling at first, but I think they caught onto how it works.  Christmas morning was so much fun. Victor spoiled me ROTTEN. He bought me my own bow, so now I can go hunting with him. I'm in the process of taking hunters safety right now! I'm so excited to be able to go out with him....and even more excited for my first kill! Can't wait! He also got me a really nice coat...that's pink and black! He knows me so well! I also got other little things, like a shirt, a movie, a CD and some things for the kitchen that I had been wanting! He's sooo good to me!
I was able to actually surprise him this year...which NEVER happens! I got him some new shoes for his bike, which was the hardest, because he's the one that sells them around here....but I got it figured out! I also put some money down on his bike for him, and got him a few other little things. It was awesome!

Merry Christmas!

For New Years Eve, we had some friends come down. It was so fun to see them. Drew & Victor took the dogs hunting while Jess and I did some shopping. It was great! I don't have many friends down here, so it was lots of fun to be able to have a girls day! We stayed up till like 2:00 AM watching movies, and eating lots of junk food! A GREAT way to spend the last day of the best year so far!

As for 2012, it's already been an exciting year. I went up north this past weekend to spend some time with my family, and while I was there, my sister-in-law had her baby! WOOOO! A little boy named Rex Aaron. I haven't been able to see him yet...but SOON!

Victor and I are also starting a workout schedule in our basement. We have a weight bench, and a bike trainer...all we're missing is the treadmill that we will hopefully be getting soon. We are also planning on paying some stuff off this year, before we have kids. We'll see how it goes.

and the best part yet...WE'RE PLANNING ON A CRUISE this year! We're so excited! We'll see if we can get the bills paid off that we need to before we can go...but that is GREAT motivation to not spend money!




Anyways, I hope you all had a great 2011, and an even better 2012~!