Gellin' Like Magellan

Evolution

2012-02-09T01:59:00.001-05:00

"The Seal"

"Stall Tactics"

Back Track: Christmas 2011 Style- Portland

2012-02-09T01:25:00.004-05:00

After spending some good quality time with Adam's family in early December, we headed off to Portland to spend Christmas and New Years with my family. Avarie did fairly well on her first airplane ride...especially since Daddy was willing to bounce her up and down on his lap almost the whole way to Portland. His arms got a really great work out.
Here are the goods:

Sizing each other up...

They decided they like each other

Grandpa Tom excited for the festivities to begin.

Mesmerized by the snow globe...
about 30 seconds before she broke it.

"Ohhhh is this all for ME?"
Opening presents Christmas Day.

Avarie's selected method of unwrapping- Chew the paper off.

Avarie loved her new toys! Thanks Family!

Fun with Nana Sue

New Year's Eve get together with
Hughes/Castleton/Carmen/Busath/Brinkerhoff/Pham Families

We had a wonderful holiday this year and feel so blessed that we were able to spend time with both Adam's family in Utah and my family in Portland. Avarie had so much fun playing with her cousins and getting spoiled by all her loving Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, and Uncles!

Back Track: Christmas 2011 Style- Utah

2012-02-06T23:13:00.002-05:00

The Hughes Christmas Glory in pictures begins with an Early Christmas with the Johnsons, Grammie M, Papa Bob, and Granddaddy Hughes in Utah:

Metting Granddaddy Hughes for the first time

Avarie and G.Daddy Hughes

Exploring our first Christmas tree,
and yes, she tasted it...
notice the pine needle evidence on her cheek.

2nd anniversary of Adam's proposal on Temple Square. 12-11-2012

Avarie loved the pretty lights- in spite of the crazy lady to her right...

Opening presents with the Johnson Cousins.
Avarie LOVED her very own Play kitchen from Aunt Bryn.

All Smiles

Avarie, G. Daddy Hughes, and Daddy. Hanging out at our house
with the Johnsons on Adam's Birthday. 12-21-2011

Stay Tuned for pictures from our Christmas in Portland!

Happy 8 Months and a Barrel of Laughs

2012-01-31T10:28:00.001-05:00

We have a real live 8 month old living in our midst. For 8 whole months we've loved her, cuddled her, watched her learn and grow. Everyday we watch in utter adoration as we continue to get to know her unique and beautiful personality. Avarie is a remarkably joyful baby. She can rarely be found in a bad mood and is generally very easy to convince that a good mood is a lot more fun. She is adaptable and very easy going. She has a fun and flirtatious personality with a giant dollop of sweetness mixed in to round things out.

She is also quite precocious and has always met developmental milestone well ahead of schedule. She started crawling at 5 months and pulling to standing at 7 months, she is now working in pulling herself along the furniture. This kid is going to be walking way too soon!
I love how Avarie uses her gleeful gusto for life to tackle new experiences with determination and a smile, always a big, gummy, smile.

Avarie is a great imitator. She watches my or Adam's mouth intently when we make a new or interesting sound that she wants to try. As she stares at us with furrowed brow, she gets her little mouth working to try to figure out how in the world we are accomplishing such wondrous sounds. She usually comes up with a really close approximation then gets a HUGE grin when we "Hooray!!" and applause. There is pretty much a constant stream of "Hooray"-ing and applause over here. She is a celebrity at our house.

Avaire also loves dancing. We've been favoring the "waltz" as of late. The dance sessions usually begin with Avarie and Mama twirling around the kitchen while Daddy works dutifully on homework and job hunting. However, he can never resist the urge to join in the fun (we're a pretty enticing pair, she and I) so he jumps in and we make an Avarie sandwich with Mama on one side and Daddy on the other. We then proceed to glide across the floor to the tune of our own made up ditty and trills of Avarie's infectious giggles.

Avarie is also an avid reader- she's very advanced for her age. She loves having story time with Mama and Papa right before bed and before naps. She has now figured out how to turn the pages, so that is the new highlight of story time these days. She thinks it's rather inconvenient to have to wait until after all the words on the page are read before she gets to turn it.

She also loves music of any kind, especially when Adam and I sing to her at bed time and when Adam plays his guitar for her. Any time singing is to be done, she feels it's her duty to join in. Even, say for instance, during her cousin Kara's voice recital...Avarie "sang" with gusto so enthusiastically that we had to relocate to the hallway so that the audience could actually hear the kids singing on stage.
Singing along to hymns during church is also a favorite for her. Adam and I routinely have to hide our faces and feign reverence as we try to refrain from raucously chortling at her very loud vocal stylings.

Avarie loves her daddy and she is the apple of her daddy's eye. You should see the way both of their faces light up when they see each other- so adorable. There is nothing more precious to me than a father who adores his daughter and dotes on her accordingly- and this Daddy treats his little girl like the precious gem that she is.
I simply cannot get enough of her. I love our playtime together everyday. I love going to get her from a nap, when I walk into the room she gets a HUGE grin on her face and immediately starts to laugh- like she just can't wait for our next adventure together. Some of my favorite times with her happen as we crawl around the house chasing after toys together, splash in the tub during her bath time, and when we read stories and snuggle at sleepy time. She has captured my heart completely and I can't imagine life without her. I adore this little girl.

Adam and I frequently "ninja snuggle" her while she's asleep. We sneak into her room, scoop her up and take her into bed with us just so that we can stare at her and marvel at how precious and perfect she is and how lucky we are to have her as a part of our family. Abundantly blessed.

New Year's Greetings!

2012-01-16T19:12:00.002-05:00

Whipped this wondrous wonder up in a jiffy on Shutterfly. Love it.

Modern Lace New Year's

Create modern holiday cards with your photos at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Grateful

2011-12-16T04:51:00.011-05:00

"By small and simple things shall great things come to pass."
Since Avarie was 6 weeks old, we have struggled with a feeding disorder that prevents her from eating enough to help her grow. I first noticed that something was amiss when her feeding time began to get shorter and shorter. She would only eat for 2-3 minutes at a time and still go 3 hours between feedings. She has always looked healthy, been ahead of her developmental milestones, and been very active and happy so all the doctors and lactation specialists I consulted with consistently reassured me that she was fine. However, the nagging feeling in my gut begged me to ignore them.

When Avarie was 3.5 months old, we were lucky enough to happen upon a pediatrician who listened to me- really listened- and trusted my instincts. She took swift action at a time when Avarie's feeding had taken a drastic turn for the worse. Our days found us trying to feed her every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day. Every 1/4 of an ounce was a mini victory. Her weight was dropping and she was classified as, "failure to thrive". Her pediatrician called us regularly on her time off to check on Avarie's progress and determine if she needed to be hospitalized yet. Several times a day, Adam and I would agonize about whether or not we should have her admitted to the hospital so they could put in a feeding tube. Thankfully, we were able to keep her home. We were referred to a pediatric gastroenterology specialist (GI) who performed a litany of tests and procedures which confirmed what we already suspected. Avarie had GERD, a severe form of acid reflux, and possible delayed gastric emptying.

At four months old, our GI doc recommended that I stop normal breast feeding. My heart broke a little (okay, it broke a lot). I was instructed to pump my milk and fortify it with formula for each meal in order to help her achieve a higher caloric intake each day and, hopefully, gain weight. We keep a meticulous record of her daily food intake and, following Dr.'s orders, we continue to trek to the Doc's office every week to get her weighed. My days are usually spent calculating ounces. I've learned exactly how many ounces she needs to get in a 24 hour period in order to come close to the caloric intake needed for growth. Some days she eats with little to no fight. Other days she resists with such determination fire you would think I were trying to feed her breast milk laced with cyanide! Those days, which are far more frequent than the easy days, are spent with Mama and baby laying in a dark room trying to be calm and quiet so that Avarie can relax enough to accept the bottle. Mostly it just means that we are waiting until she gets too tired to fight it off anymore. It's heartbreaking to watch her struggle so hard with something as basic and life sustaining as eating. Her poor little body learned at an early age that eating hurts and now she protects herself from the hurt as best she knows how. According to all 3 of the specialists we've seen, it appears that the underlying medical causes of the feeding disorder have cleared up, which is wonderful. We are now working each day on overcoming the residual consequences of the disorder.

I would love to say that I handle this all with grace and humble submission, however that would be a huge and bold faced lie. I cry often. It gets the sad out of me. My day light hours are spent trying to give everything I have to accepting what I can't change and pleading with my Heavenly Father for peace, patience, and endurance. I have been so humbled by His gentle assistance to help me get through the day, hour by hour. But in the quiet stillness of the night, while my little family sleeps, I am alone and I can let out all the hurt. Sometimes it feels good to cry, to allow myself the guilty pleasure of being weak for a moment. The tears feel like honesty.

Tonight I am grateful. After a very dark and difficult day yesterday, just when I thought I really couldn't handle it anymore, we were blessed with a day of little miracles. I saw a miracle in the fortification and renewed strength I was given. I saw a miracle in the love and patience with which Grammy (Adam's mom watches her every Tuesday and Thursday while I'm at work) lovingly cares for Avarie. A phone call from my mom gave me uplift and comfort. Simple texts from friends and family sharing in the joy of Avarie's successes. And finally, as the clock inched toward 12am, we saw the happiest little miracle of all. Avarie finished the day with a new daily intake record high of 24.25 oz and 5 tablespoons of solid food. A tiny miracle, a little light in our struggle. A reminder that the Lord is mindful of me and that He knows my limits. He knows exactly when I need to see Him. Tonight, I saw Him. I am overjoyed and full of gratitude. I know our journey is far from over, but I am so grateful for 'small' successes like this along the way and for the loving mercy of my Father in Heaven.

In spite of it all, it is a tricky business to catch this little girl in a bad mood! Avarie is a joyful baby. From sun up to sun down she is a ball of energy and smiles- my little ray of sunshine. When this little lady smiles, her whole body glows and we can't help but glow along with her!

Avarie is also a M-O-V-E-R! When she is awake, she is wiggling. She started inchworm crawling at 5 months old and has now decided that sitting still is for babies. She is curious and interested in everything around her- especially people. I love to watch her meet new people. She stares blankly at new faces for a minute or two, then just when they are convinced that she cares not at all for them, she busts out the smiles. After that, it's nothing but flirtatious smiles, chatter, and laughter. She is such a fun and engaging little lady! She inspires me to look for the joy in our journey. Adam and I routinely gaze at her with pure wonderment and unadulterated joy.
Happy 7 months AvaBelle!!!

The Great Out of Doors

2011-11-22T00:33:00.000-05:00

After a long and busy year of lots of changes [read: moving across the country, starting MBA School (Adam), starting a new job (Megan), being pregnant whilst working 40 hours a week (Megan- lest there be any confusion), moving again 2 weeks before baby was due, starting a summer internship in SLC (Adam), having a baby (Megan), learning how to be awesome parents (Adam and Megan), becoming a mostly stay at home mom (Megan), to name a few] Adam and I decided a vacation before starting year 2 of MBA school was an absolute MUST.

Waaaay back in August, we took a quick weekend trip up to Rexburg, ID to visit my brother who is in school there. While we were there we took a day trip over to Teton National Park- somewhere Adam had always wanted to go. After spending but a few short hours in Teton splendor we decided we had to return, thus the first annual Hughes family Vacation destination was selected.

Here are a few photos from our day trip to Teton National Park.

Avarie was a total gem in the car!

Behold the mighty Tetons. The views were breath taking.

Avarie and Adam on our hike at Jenny Lake.

Uncle Kevin. We love this guy!

Jenny Lake in Teton National Park. Adam had pictures of Jenny Lake as his screen saver when he worked in D.C. and he always wanted to visit. Mission accomplished!

Avarie becoming one with nature on our hike at Jenny Lake.

We headed out for our official Hughes Family Vacation the week before Labor Day. We spent four splendid days visiting Grand Teton National Park (again) and Yellowstone National Park (they are right next to each other). We stayed at a great little place in the mountains called Togwotee Mountain Lodge in Moran, WY ( http://www.togwoteelodge.com/) and loved it! Stay there- you won't regret it. The scenery was breath taking! Adam and I were blown away by the beauty of this little corner of the earth. Our first day in the parks we stopped every 2 minutes to oggle the phenomenal sights and to designate every beautiful place as the new spot for the retirement home of our dreams. For me, it was yet another testament that God really does love His children in order to create such beauty for us to enjoy.

Avarie was an absolute peach on the trip. She was a happy little camper the whole time. As long as there was someone sitting beside her in the car she would chatter, coo and squeal to her hearts content. She is quite the contented traveler.

Here are a few photos from our second trip to the Tetons with the new addition of Yellowstone:

The happiest of campers

"Bunny ears Dad, really?"

Beasts

The clearest waters I've ever seen!

Family Pic...nice arm Adam.

"Where are we off to next guys??"

Magic

2011-08-28T21:17:00.001-04:00

Avarie is a VERY happy baby. When she is awake, she is smiling. For the last few weeks she has been trying to figure out how to laugh. Sometimes she gets out a little half giggle, but mostly she just makes a cough type sound in conjunction with smiles. A few days ago, all of that changed. Behold the CUTEST sound you may ever hear in your life:

Dear Baby,

2011-05-10T20:00:00.003-04:00

Please gather your personal belongings and calmly proceed to the nearest exit, post haste.
With Love,
Mom & Dad

T3

2011-02-06T21:21:00.001-05:00

I've made it to 28 weeks, thus beginning the 3rd trimester- FINALLY. I have to admit, I thought that I would be one of those glowing pregnant ladies who love, love, loooooooooves being great with child- I am not that lady. I am happy as can be to have our little baby girl coming to join our family and I feel very lucky that I am able to have kids naturally. Adam and I are already smitten beyond belief with this little lady and we've yet to even see her sweet tiny face. I've got her ultra sound picture framed and placed on our book shelve in the front room where I stare at her image daily. I am SO excited to finally meet her.
However, I am slightly disappointed that I have not been a pillar of pregnant strength and grander. In my mind, pregnant Megan was supposed to be full of energy and vigor, working out with gusto daily and tossing aside the pesky aches and pains of pregnancy with a light hearted laugh. Never did I dane to think of daily migraines and nights of no sleep coupled with the sheer physical and emotional exhaustion of a constantly changing and growing body. Naivety at it's finest. Reality has now taught me that exercising 3-4 times a week, powering through the constant headaches, and accepting that my body is not that of the incredible hulk's, is okay. I'm human. I like being pregnant, but I will love being done until we're ready to welcome the next baby. By that time my expectations of pregnant Megan will be much more refined and a whole lot more realistic.

Lady Baby

2010-12-21T19:03:00.003-05:00

Adorable

    Yesterday, December 20, 2010 was the long awaited day that we got to find out if there would soon be the pitter patter of little boy or little girl feet gallivanting around our home. Both Adam and I were convinced we were having a boy. We had only thought of boy names and had even been referring to the baby as "he". When the ultra sound tech. announced, "it's a girl!!!" we both just sat there in befuddled silence. I asked the tech if she was sure and to prove herself to us. I remained unconvinced. I'm sure she gets that a lot and I'm sure it's annoying every time. Sorry tech lady.
    It took a while for it to sink in for me...a girl and not a boy? But how could my motherly instincts be so wrong? Not possible. After leaving the Doctor's office Adam just shook his head and reiterated what he's always said, he's done for- referring to the fact that he's a sucker for a sweet little girl face and she's gonna have him wrapped ever so tightly around her precious little lady finger. I fear the boy that ever tries to win her heart, he is going to have A LOT to live up to after baby girl has been spoiled soundly by Daddy.
    I am getting more and more excited and terrified by the minute for her to arrive. I am excited for baby girl to join our family and terrified by the reality that I am going to be a parent for reals. There is so much to learn and keep learning, teach and be the example of for her as she grows and matures. I hope the very best of everything we have to give her is enough to help her be the person she is meant to be!
Also very note worthy- today was Adam's birthday!! We had wonderful festivities at his sister's house that made him feel blessed and thoroughly loved. His mom made his favorite dinner, lasagna, the nieces and nephew put together an adorable musical and puppet show for him, and they even made him a pinata filled with candy and money- who wouldn't love that!?! I for one am glad to have this birthday boy to call my very own. Love. Happy birthday Adam!!!

The Happs

2010-12-21T03:01:00.012-05:00

It has been a whirlwind of activity here at the Hughestead as of late. Adam was a furry of studying prowess as he prepared for and aptly conquered finals. When this guy sets his mind to something, such as studying or any other project, he is a force of grander to be reckoned with. I have never in my life seen the likes of his dedication and focus- it's truly awe inspiring.

We were also very happy to get to go to the 1st Presidency (of the LDS Church) Christmas Devotional at the Conference Center in Salt Lake with Adam's family. It was a wonderful evening with specially prepared inspirational messages reminding us to turn our focus to Christ and the celebration of His life during this Christmas season. I was grateful for the gentle reminder to keep the true spirit of Christmas alive rather than letting myself get engulfed in the hubbub of consumerism. I also loved hearing the beautiful music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and seeing the lights that decorate the grounds of the Conference Center and on Temple Square. Walking around the grounds at Christmas time reminded me of being a missionary there and LOVING it! Bring on the nostalgia. It was Adam's very first time attending an event inside the Conference Center- he loved it as well, as evident below:

December 5, 2010

Adam and I have long disagreed about whom was bed hog in the family. I have hard evidence that one of us slowly gravitates toward the center of the bed during the course of the night, thus forcing the other to the nether most regions of the mattress. I'll not sway the verdict, you be the judge:

Adam deep in slumber (the edge of the blue pillow marks the edge of the bed).

At about 17.5 weeks preg. I was laying in bed watching a movie while waiting for Adam to come home from a very long night of studying at the library. As I was lying there minding my own, I felt a strange and un-nerving sensation in my belly. After determining that, nope, never felt that one before, I immediately thought, "uhhh, can fetuses have seizures??" It felt like a humming bird was trapped in there and was desperately attempting escape. The buzzing, seizure feeling was no fleeting thing either, it would last for a good minute or two before stopping for a few seconds then starting right back up again. Being secretly mildly alarmed but also conjecturing that it could be the baby making it's presence known I hastily grabbed for my phone and dialed one of my BFFs, Lorna- a seasoned mother of 3. Wanting to play it cool, yet realizing that it was well past the acceptable hour to call decent folk just as she picked up the phone with a quizzical, "Meeeg?". I started off the convo with an ever so breezy, "sooo, how's it going?". Right. Transparent? Yes. After careful description of the belly disturbances we both agreed that I had very likely just felt the first baby stirrings. I was quite pleased that I felt it a few weeks ahead of normal (at least that's what the baby bible book says). Baby is highly advanced already. Adam and I are quite proud.

18.5 Weeks, December 8, 2010

Last but certainly not least, it's Christmas time. I L-O-V-E the Christmas season with the fire of a thousand suns (novel talk anyone?). Here are a few pictures from the festivities to date:

My crafty 'gingerbread' house from our staff holiday party.

Fun with the Chatsworth ladies and friends for a festive get together.

Brianne was the lucky recipient of my white elephant gift
-there are jumbo sized bike shorts to go with.

The handy work of Adam's nieces, and me...he might not love that I posted this.

Story Archive- "I Burnt My Hair!!!"

2010-12-21T02:06:00.000-05:00

It was a regular day just like any other day. I went about my business, as per usual, getting ready for the day. It was a Saturday, I think. Adam had come to my apartment and was patiently waiting for me to finish drying my hair so that we could go out. My hair dryer began acting strange. I ignored the strangeness. It shot sparks. My hair (bangs to be exact) began to fizzle and steam. A crop of burnt, frizzled hair stuck straight up in the front, not unlike a Troll Doll's hair- minus the electric coloring. It was 2 weeks before our wedding. Lovely. I burnt my hair.

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

2010-12-18T22:38:00.000-05:00

Christ: The Real Gift of Christmas

The Waiting Game

2010-11-23T00:57:00.001-05:00

I am currently anxiously awaiting the arrival of my mom- well known in family circles as, "The Suze"- to arrive from Portland, OR. Her plane was supposed to land in Salt Lake at 7:30 pm, however, due to severe weather in Portland her plane was delayed 2+ hours. Not at all fun. So here I sit, long past my usual 8:30-9:00ish bed time waiting for her safe arrival. Holiday travel of my loved ones with storms brewing always make me nervous.
There is also supposed to be a nasty blizzardy storm moving into the Wasatch Valley over night which is slated to continue wreaking havoc on us until late tomorrow night. I'm still waiting for the first flakes to fall. I LOVE snow fall! Waiting for it to start is like Christmas Eve when you're 5- seriously seems to take F-O-R-E-V-E-R.
I had my 16 week check up today. it was short, sweet, and to the point, exactly how it should be. I really like the practice that I visit, the Docs are professional, they take their time with me, I never have to sit in the office waiting like a chump for hours for the Doc to mosey on in, (it likely helps that I always take the first morning appointment so I am usually one of the only patients in the office), and they are quite accommodating. Bonus feature of the appointment, I got to make my appointment for the 20 week ultra sound. Dec. 20th we get to find out if it's a man child or a lady child! I am counting down the days!

"Toss Me Your Keys"

2010-11-14T23:28:00.030-05:00

Yesterday Me and That One Guy (side note: I've become quite forgetful lately and on numerous occasions at work I've attempted to recount a story or something that Adam has said and cannot for the life of me think of his name- so I've resorted to calling him "That One Guy That I Love" or just "That One Guy" for short. My co-workers now also refer to him as that one guy. Sad but true). So anyway, yesterday That One Guy and I finally vanquished our tiny apartment of all of the boxes left over from moving...3 months ago. It feels great to have a semi-normal looking apt. with zero packing boxes taunting us from the corners they'd been hastily stuffed in. Adam's sister and brother-in-law have been kind enough to let us use part of their garage as a storage unit for the items that won't fit in our place (which is A LOT). After spending the morning cleaning and unpacking our place we started dragging the storage stuff down the 3 flights of stairs to the street so that we could load up the car and take it to Bryn and Ladd's.

It was cold.

Adam asked me to move the car around but upon realizing I had no keys with me (or so I thought- remember, very forgetful.) I called up for him to toss me his keys, which he gladly did. This is where they landed:

And this is how we got them down:

Baby Cash is growing like a weed this week- and it shows. According to the Dr. my body is shaped in a way that makes it so I'll start showing earlier than most women would. Lovely. I am overjoyed that I get to look rotund for even longer than my preg. peers. I am now in that weird in between stage where I look more glutenous than with child. Mildly depressing. I am looking forward to moving beyond this awkward visual stage and to actually looking pregnant rather than just fat.

15 Weeks Preg. November 14, 2010

In other news, after much frantic searching and a stroke of genius from Adam, I have finally located my camera cords. This means I've also found more pictures! Here are a few gems from our move back in August from Gaithersburg, Maryland to Provo, Utah:

Silvia-the-car all strapped in and ready for yet another cross country move.


The ONE time I drove the giant moving truck			with car in tow- terrifying.


Handsome

20 ft. statue of Mother Mary (?) near the boarder of NE and WY.

Adam's mom leading the way- she flew out to MD to help us drive his car to UT.

Epicness

2010-11-09T01:36:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a day of epics at the Hughes Homestead- the Hughestead as I've dubbed it. First and foremost, I hit week 14 of pregnancy which translates to one trimester down and two to go. A lot of my more annoying symptoms- namely wretched nausea and extreme hunger swings- stared to dissipate around week 9-ish. Now all I'm waiting for is that resurgence of energy that I hear tell comes along in trimester numero dos.
Epic number 2: I had one of the most evil and hateful migraines that I've had in a long while this weekend. Hated it.
Epic number 3: Adam and I embarked on a fabulous cooking spree Sunday Evening. We made 3 meals to ensure tasty eats through out the week. Savory beef stew, tantalizing baked salmon, and zesty beef burritos. We make a pretty awe-inspiring culinary team.
Final epic: Today marks our 6 month wedding anniversary. We marked the occasion with a fabulous Family Home Evening and played the 'remember when' game recalling some of our favorite Us moments- and even some of our less than favorite Us moments. I love that I am one of the lucky ones who has a companion whom I can laugh with daily. I get to watch in awe as he never ceases to surprise me with his strength of character, humility, and genuine charity. I feel very blessed. Here's to another 6 months and beyond!
Some random pictures from the last few months:


Honeymooning in Aruba

Swap Meeting in Gaithersburg, MD

Note to self: we need to take more pictures.
The End.

Packing Boxes and Salmon

2010-08-07T22:08:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, August 10, 2010, in the A.M. is our planned departure. Adam and I have been anxiously awaiting our cross-country move for months and we are ready to hit the road! Of course there are many people that we will miss and are quite sad to say goodbye too but we are also really looking forward to living near family and some of our other loved ones. We will be living in Provo, UT where Adam will start his MBA program at the Marriott school and I start work at Kids On The Move helping to develop their new autism preschool. Adam's family will be only a short 30min. drive north from us and we will also be a lot closer to my family in Portland, OR than we are now.
With packing, driving cross-country, unpacking, and starting school and work all in one week it's going to be/is a whirlwind of activity- hopefully we will emerge unscathed. As it stands now, we are making steady progress packing and, though our apartment looks like a war zone, we should be ready for our moving crew, courtesy of the Quince Orchard LDS congregation, to help load the moving van on Monday night. We will be very sad to leave our congregation at church. They have been so welcoming and friendly from day one!


Behold the Mighty Moving Mess

This afternoon we took a break from packing to gather some supplies from Costco. That place is nothing short of a mad house on a Saturday afternoon. Despite the chaos it was a very worthy trip. We found salmon for so cheap! When we got home I went in search of the perfect salmon recipe and came across quite a gem.
You all MUST try this recipe for dijon glazed salmon. I made it tonight and am in love- and I was only a moderate salmon fan to start with. Adam, the esteemed food critic, gave it a 10 out of 10.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Baked-Salmon-Fillets-Dijon/Detail.aspx
To healthy it up a bit I made my own bread crumbs and seasoning using 4 meba toast crackers ground up and mixed with 1/4 Teaspoon of each of the following: basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. I also omitted the butter and added a slice of tomato to each fillet for moisture and a tad extra flavor. It's AMAZING! And good for you too.
Let me know what you think!

Yumm!

PS. The salmon was a great price at Costco- good, healthy, and cheap are my best friends.

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait... IRELAND.

2010-07-27T00:16:00.004-04:00

Some of you may recall that a few months back, okay about 11 months to be exact, I and two of the best travel companions a girl could have- namely,

And this girl: Natalie A. Bruford

This guy: Adam J. Hughes

-embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. Oh what an adventure it was! I have wanted to go to Ireland, land of my father's fathers, for as long as I can remember. Truly St. Patrick's Day for many years was my favorite holiday- what little girl wouldn't love getting out of school to perform Irish Step Dance in festivals around the city? I looooved it and all things Irish. Maybe I even skipped a recess or two in middle school to work on self assigned "reports" about Ireland...I know what you're thinking and I'll quell that thought right away, YES I HAD FRIENDS. Moving right along. Needless to say that when my roommate, Natalie, suggested a trip to the good 'ol emerald isle, I jumped at the opportunity. Adam, being recently freed from the bonds of KPMG, was none too difficult to convince to come along as well (I think he also may have had a major crush on me). The trip was amazing. I may still have dreams of the lush green countryside and rolling hills that stretch far and wide.
We flew into Dublin and spent the next 10 days exploring the sights and sounds by train, car, bus, and boat covering a good piece of the southern and western coastline, then through the center of the island, and back to Dublin. We all wished we could have stayed longer. The people were so friendly and hospitable and the sights were breath-taking- truly a trip of a lifetime. Adam and I are already stalking airline prices for our next Irish adventure. Here are just a few of our favorite pictures from our trip:


The Spire of Dublin, titled the Monument of Light

Blarney Castle, County Cork

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

Nat Rocking with Jimi Hendrix, Dublin

Blarney Castle, Co. Cork


Kissing the Blarney Stone

Fun in the Fairy Glen, Blarney Castle, Co. Cork

Castle for sale, any takers?

Cobh Ireland, Co. Cork

More to come at a later date and time...

Delinquent.

2010-07-26T22:12:00.002-04:00

So maybe I haven't posted anything new for quite some time but I am bound and semi-determined to do a whirlwind synopsis of the past year's goings on over the next few days...or maybe weeks... One thing must be said, on May 13, 2009 (my birthday) I had the distinct feeling that my 29th year was going to be a year of greatness. I have to say that I was in no way wrong about that- it was quite possibly one of the best years of my life to date. I got to travel to the one place I've wanted to go since I was a tiny tot- Ireland, met and AMAZING guy, married said amazing guy, and acquired a family of truly wonderful in-laws- can't get much better that that!

TheKnot

2010-01-26T12:31:00.000-05:00

TheKnot
Visit our new wedding website to get the latest and greatest on our planning!

Speading Christmas Joy For All To Hear

2009-12-23T07:43:00.000-05:00

Dear Continental, Thanks for letting me sit in your plane for 2 hours in DC and then miss my connecting flight to Portland. Thanks for then allowing me the great pleasure of waiting in your customer service line for over 2 hours. Also please accept my gratitude for the luxury of paying for my own hotel room. I Loved that. I am really happy that I got to get to sleep by 1:30am and then wake up at 4:30 to attempt to get on stand by for one of your earlier flights. Elation filled my soul when I didn't make stand by and got to return to the hotel to wait out 12 more hours in Newark, NJ. Maybe I will get to fly on your 7pm flight tonight. This is good though I ,of course, feel great joy in the fact that I will now miss the Nutcracker outing I've planned with my girls tonight. And so Continental, please do accept my whole hearted thank you for a job very well done.

Whirwind-O-Fun

2009-11-29T19:23:00.025-05:00

This fall has been busy. This fall has been FUN *note, all caps FUN= definite emphatic emphasis*. With so much going on I have found it quite overwhelming to imagine catching up on all the grandeur at once so I've decided on bit by little tinsey bit. Soooooo the stories begin.
It was my little niece Lorelai's first Halloween. She was a precious pumpkin:

Can't really deny that at the moment I saw these pictures my heart bled a little being 3000miles away from this cuteness.
In other news, in early October Adam and I decided to take an epic journey to Florida to visit his Dad and to see the U2 concert. We started the ridiculously lengthy drive on a Thursday afternoon after work and drove, and drove, and drooooove. By the time we got to Tampa at 5:00pm the next day we were seriously contemplating the stability of our sanity. The concert was fabulous. Adam was made slightly beasty by some unsightly traffic which delayed our arrival at the concert by 2 loathsome hours. However, as soon as the first notes of the concert rang clear and true I watched a small and boyish grin spread across his formerly traffic-trodden face and I knew, all would be well. And it was.
We also had a very nice visit with Donald, Adam's dad. We spent Saturday afternoon lazing about on the sunny shores of Bel Air Beach and then went out for a nice dinner to round off a great day.At one point, while Adam and I were bobbing along in the ocean, we were having a hypothetical discussion about sharks, having recently watched shark week on National Geographic. Now having been faithful shark week watchers we knew that sharks like anything live and fleshy, but mostly they like live and fleshy fish, not people. In fact they rarely go after humans unless the waters are murky and they get confused. Now as our stimulating shark discussion continued I was quick to point out that we were not safe swimmers. The water at Bel Air Beach were we were swimming is very murky, "to a shark you look like dinner" says I to Adam. My back was to the ocean, Adam had full view of the oceany expanse. His face went from laughter to dead serious in .2 seconds flat. "Dorsal fins, DORSAL FINS!!" he screeched (in a very manly voice). "Bahaha, nice try, stop trying to scare me"I said with a slight nervous quiver. Adam, "Seriously!" I turned and let out a yelp upon seeing 2 very definite, very close (about 20ft. away) gray dorsal fins slipping in and out of the water ever so silently. Due to my stellar shark week education, I quickly realized, however, that A) sharks don't swim in pairs, side by side. and B) they also swim with a side to side motion and not the up and down bob that we were seeing. Heart attack averted. Thanks shark week.

Social (Blogging) Defyance

2009-11-29T18:57:00.006-05:00

I've been quite the lazy blogger. All I have to say in my lacksidazical defense is that you had been forewarned (please refer to post on May 20, 2009). I told you all that I had become a blogging beast. Some may have mistakenly assumed, due to the contents of the aforementioned post, that they would be privy to an endless supply of blog streams detailing the intricate goings on of my day to day (as if anyone really cares about the nitty gritty, I don't even care about the nitty gritty!). However, you may be aware that the basic nature of a beast is unpredictable, which is what makes a beast such a tretcherous entity. So there (incert beasty foot stomp to emphasise my blogging defiance).

The Lights Are On But...

2009-11-08T01:51:00.003-05:00

Is it strange that I sometimes check my blog to see if it's been magically updated with my latest
goings on by someone other than myself?

Chemical Warfare

2009-10-19T12:04:00.008-04:00

Today is a busy day at the office (obviously since I am blogging away as though I have not a care in the world, but seriously, it's really busy!). I have been joining forces with Nancy, our wonderfully entertaining Executive Assistant (really she's great! She and I have occasional impromptu dance parties in our office just to lighten things up on stressful days, I love her.), Anyway, our forces have been combined to collectively curse our obstinate office machinery. Our copy machine AND printer have both rebelled against reason and duty and are refusing to function properly. The copier, which has but one job- copy one image to a blank sheet of paper, the end- has chosen to crumple up the copied sheet and get it stuck within the bowels of the machine. That thing is constipated and possessed. Rude. And the printer you query? Well, the printer has decided to pick and choose at will which jobs to spew forth from it's ink filled jaws. If this printer was a person and therefore had a personality, he would be a jerk.
So, amidst all of this cursing of office equipment and running to and fro, in walks our intern and exclaims, "why does it smell like maple syrup in here? It's REALLY strong!" As we all stopped to locate the smell I, playing the role of captain obvious, remarked, "it DOES smell like maple syrup in here...and it is REALLY strong!" blank stares followed. I then remarked with a chuckle, "hey, doesn't Northrax (the deadly chemical agent sometimes used in chemical warfare- don't ask me how I know this stuff) smell like maple syrup?" Horrified stares. Some jokes just don't go over well in the capital city of the most powerful nation in the free world. I am 0 for 2 with valid verbal contributions today. Nice.

The Sun Came Out; It's Tomorrow

2009-10-07T14:13:00.012-04:00

I like today a lot better than yesterday.
These days the air is crisp and Fall-like and the sun hangs a little lower in the sky casting sleepy shadows across the landscape. The leaves have begun their graceful decent signifying that Autumn has initiated her full rise to glory.

As soon as the air turns sharp and the temperatures cool my mind jumps into holiday mode. It doesn't take much for my imagination to scare up the faint sounds of children bustling from house to house dressed Halloween garb while parents follow subtlety, yet dutifully, behind. Or to conjure up images of tasty baked goods cooling on the counter and filling the air with homey goodness.
I get very nostalgic around this time of year. I LOVE the holiday season and all of the festive traditions that come along with it. From Halloween to St. Patrick's Day I am all for the craftsy pomp and circumstance.
During holiday season especially, I can't help but to thankfully embrace the careful domestic training I received from my mom as I was growing up. Mammy dearest would gather all three of us rambunctious sass-mouths into the kitchen to whip up tastiness to share with our friends and neighbors alike. Loved it.

So to celebrate the arrival of Fall 2009 I busted out the culinary genius in me this afternoon. With Madison (my boss's 19 year old son who has autism) as my trusty side-kick we set out to bake my very first banana nut bread. The ridiculously appealing aroma is filling my lungs as we speak. Don't be jealous, it's so very unbecoming.

I Don't Wanna Grow Up!

2009-10-06T14:36:00.008-04:00

Ever have those days where you feel like everything is wrong and nothing is right and you realized just how good you had it as a kid when all you had to worry about was whether to watch Gummy Bears or Smurfs 'cuz thy were on at the same time? It's days like these that you get that ever so generous kick in the pants as it occurs to you that you just may be a failure at living rather than the professional you had initially thought you were.
Today is one of those days for me. I long for to 5:00pm to roll around so that I can crawl into my bed with my lap top and a stack of beloved lady adored flicks and pretend that I'am sick- wait, I AM sick! Sick of being awake! From the vantage point of my downy soft bed, surrounded by way to many, but all very vital, fluffy down pillows, the world and all of it's dumb looks less dumb and more nice. Plus I can forget, for a brief time, all of my pitiful and abounding woes.
In college these woeful days were usually buffeted by the presence of a loving friend or two who would woe with me; hopping on my bed to join in the Gilmore Girl fest with Ben, Jerry, and myself. Ohhhh how the nastyness of the day would melt away in the presence of good girl friends. I miss that.
So in summary: woe is me, the world and I are wrong today.

Baby Love; The Niece

2009-09-30T13:52:00.016-04:00

My little sister, Ali, and her husband, James, have been the proud parents of little Lorelai for the past 6 months and counting. She is adorable. As the first grandchild of both her maternal and paternal grandparents she is the apple of everyone's eye, Farrelly and Hall families alike.
Much to my delight, Ali and James have recently procured a web-cam. This means that once or twice a week I get to witness Lorelai's infectious giggles and coos firsthand- I love it. So in honor of Little Lai's recent 6 month birthday (she was born on March 28, 2009) please feel free to cast your eyes upon her undeniable cuteness..

A New Coat of Paint

2009-09-30T13:24:00.001-04:00

I like playing with colors and pretty things. I like changing the colors and pretty things on my blog. Enjoy the new digs.

Patience, It's a Virtue

2009-09-10T14:26:00.004-04:00

For all those who are anxiously awaiting photos and stories detailing my fabulous adventures in Ireland...keep waiting. I am not yet good and ready to focus long enough to get it done to the level of satisfaction required by my perfectionistic self. Lame? Likely. Truth? Affirmative. But here is a tantalizing teaser to tide you over, Maren- whom I'm pretty sure is the only one still checking this thing. Enjoy!

Will Work For Food

2009-07-28T12:13:00.011-04:00

I am sitting at my desk right now draped in an old lady-esque afgan blanket and an oversized hoodie that I borrowed from my boss's daughter. Due to the cranked up A.C. and the air vent that is oh so conveniently located directly in front of my knees it is FRIGGED in my office. 'Just close the vent and quit your whining', you say? Trust me, I've tried it. "MacGyver ain't got nothing on me!", thought I as I dropped to all fours and shimmied under the desk armed with a manila folder, a roll of scotch tape, a wicked-sly grin, and a firm determination to fight the freeze. However, battle as I might, the arctic blast would not be quelled by my feeble attempts.
So here I sit, chilled to the core with the early stages of hypothermia setting in threatening to claim my appendages and my sanity...Now all I need are some hobo gloves, one or two imaginary friends , and a cardboard sign to fit in quite nicely on any respectable DC street corner.

Somewhere, Beyond the Sea...

2009-06-10T00:28:00.003-04:00

Noteworthy: My 26 year old friend wet the bed last night.

A Beast is Born

2009-05-20T23:47:00.012-04:00

Fine I will admit it. I am a hypocrite (I know you're thinking it Cressey). Though I really do love reading my friend's blogs, ever since blogging hit the scene with a wicked vengeance I have secretly, and on occasion even not so secretly, viewed hosting a personal blog as a socially acceptable avenue for self glorification. Why would I want to blog about myself, I'm just here minding my own and living life so why write it down for all to read? And further more, who would care to read my inconsequential anecdotes? Pass. Then I remembered how much I LOVE to write and , lets be honest, I love to share too (witness the golden child of dear old Alameda Elementary). Add that to frequent coaxing from others and the fact that I always enjoy a good story recitation and, walla!, my aversion to blogging has slowly begun to dissipate. I now fear that I will become an unstoppable blogging beast.

Now that I have aired my proverbial dirty laundry...I am going to the beach in T-1.5 days. Fact: I love the beach. When asked where I would most like to live my standard, and perfectly truthful, answer is- on the beach in Tahiti where I shall reside in a stilted hut on the sand with a re-enforced plexi-glass floor so that I can watch the sea life thrive beneath my feet. True story. Despite my fair, rosey skin that burns at the mear thought of prolonged sun exposure I would, and have, gladly slathered on the SPF 50+ and lazed about the surf and sand for hours on end basking in the glorious sun. So come Friday at quitting time I will head to the car with a skip in my step and trusty 2-piece in hand knowing that in a few short hours sandy bliss will soon be mine.

Ummmm...?

2009-05-20T00:21:00.006-04:00

Okay, so for months upon months individuals who will remain nameless have been not so quietly demanded that I share 'Megisms' in blog form. A Megism is standard lingo for instances in which a normal daily activity takes an unintentional turn for adventure when yours truly is involved. In short, a Megism is me being me and the joyous mayhem that usually follows suit. Resistance was mine however. I refused to my hearts content to fall prey to the torrid world of blogging until curiosity (and persistent badgering) got the best of me. So to all of you loyal story time fans out there, strap on your seatbelts and get ready for magic to happen...

I'm OUT.

2008-12-07T18:15:00.000-05:00

The inaugural post... I got nothing.