Utah Author: Brodi Ashton {Everneath}

Guys, guess what?
There are these awesome and amazing books:
Everneath and Everbound (third book is untitled for now.)
The author is from our hood!
The story takes place in Park City, it was so cool for me to know every place that was discussed in the story line, I had such a perfect image of everything that took place.
The idea is unique and makes you think about the lengths you would go to for love.
It is a retelling of the Greek mythology story of Persephone.
First love, betrayl, and heartbreak are all a part of the story line.
It took me back to the excitement of all of the firsts in life, I think that is why I love Young Adult.
The first time I felt love and lust and heartbreak are all such important memories for me and each have a sewn a stitch on my heart.
Utahn's we have got to support our locals... and besides these books rock.
(not to mention the cover art, hello amazing!)

Well there you have it. Now back to my school work. Boring.

Five Months!

My dude is five months!

He grows, changes, and learns new things every day! I am so in love with him!

Archer at 5 months:

Rolls every direction
Inch Worms to get where he wants to go
Bears weight and stands with assistance
Sits by himself for about 30seconds
Laughs at Marley, his doggy
Grabs anything he can and immediately tries to eat it.
Smiles whenever he wakes up from a nap or bed.
Eats rice cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, squash, and peaches
Loves to hold his bottle
Working on holding his training sippy
Loves his Nunu
Hasn't had collic for the last 6 weeks
Still on Zantec
Growls constantly
Always talking
Drools like crazy
Starting to get more hair
Loves splashing in the bath
Loves Momma and Daddy
Is always flailing
Has the prettiest blue eyes ever
Likes Moms iPhone already(agh)
Still wakes up twice a night


I am guessing he is up in weight by the switch to size 3 diapers, he is a little longer too, but not much!

Xo,
Momma

And then I made

This cute nautical headband
Cost: $0
Difficulty: easy
What you need: an old t shirt, scissors, and hot glue. Oh a girl tiny human is necessary, I tried it on Archy but my husband did not approve!!
Let me know if I should do a tutorial!

baby showers!

Somehow I had three baby showers and didn't take any pictures of them! Ahh! I know there were pictures taken, so if you have some- send them my way! 

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the showers and those that sent their love from far away!! Archer is for sure spoiled! 

I had a fun shower with my families thrown by my Mom and sisters and hosted by my mother in law Paula. It was so great, I know both sides of my families helped with food and decor and it was such a nice shower!! and I got my FAVORITE cupcakes too :) 

My friend Brooke threw a joint shower for my pregnant friend Cortnie and I! 

Oh I think I have a picture of the two of us from that day. Yayy.

(how lame, one picture???)  

We had so many people there to give our babies some love! 

Reese and Archer will be very well dressed and swaddled! 

The last one was a Bunko friend shower, Cort's and my adopted older sister Kelli Casperson threw it for the two of us! Our bunko group is so fun and I am so grateful to have met such amazing people and have grown to love them all! Again our babes got so spoiled, everyone was so thoughtful and I am so happy to know such awesome girlies! 

So THANK YOU, is all I can say! We are nearly set for Archer's arrival, with just five short weeks until his expected Due Date! At my last appointment at 34 weeks, he was measuring 36 weeks.  At the next appointment we will have an ultrasound and get me all checked out to see where him and I are at and when he will be making his debut!! I have a couple more items to get to make me feel like he will be taken care of when we bring him home!  My D'Ettes are throwing me a shower next Saturday and that is the last of them! I am excited, nervous, but mostly just excited.  Do most parents have no idea what they are doing, because it will be really interesting and kind of scary to actually have the little amazing boy in my arms!! So many thoughts go through my head about this every day and I just can't believe it will be real so soon! 

xoxo,

Kelli

happiness is...

I follow this really inspirational blog http://runningonhappiness.blogspot.com/...

It inspires me to be better, stronger, and more confident. 

So in true happy fashion I am going to write a list of things that make me happy.

1. feeling my little boy's kicks and jabs... 

most incredible feeling.

2. my husband, he is amazing, 

I love him more than I could ever write down.

3. sitting in my nursery and looking at the empty crib, 

that will soon be filled with a squishy little boy.

4. not a lot of snow this winter... 

it just is good all around.

5. my family, I look up to each of them in their own way.

6. my dog, Marley, she is so funny and thinks she is a human... 

we lovingly call her our cat dog. 

7. strawberry milk. 

I crave it like 8 times a day. 

8. nesting, even though it gives me anxiety... 

it is making me so excited.

9. hot showers, not as hot as I used to take... 

but still the best thing on my back ever.

10. thoughts of a family of 3, a car seat in the back of my car and 

always having a little buddy with me. 

Well that is the short list, but I am trying to be more grateful and positive.  I don't want to let anything that has brought me down in the past, keep me down for the future. 

and so many fun things coming up this month, 2 showers, Valentines Day, Birthdays, D'Ette Night to Remember, SYTYCD filming, new team auditions... another baby shower in March and hopefully the arrival of my son!! ahhh!!!  :) 

xoxoxo,

Kelli

Christmas

I was horrible at taking pictures this year! So, I will post what I have and document what I remember. This year was our fifth Christmas together married. It also marks our last as a family of two, as baby boy will be a nine month old next year. We have the blessing and the curse of having both families so close, so we try to be everywhere and see everyone- it gets a little stressful for us, but we love our families.

*Christmas Eve we spent dinner at Texas Roadhouse with the Payne side and then quickly jetted down to Pleasant Grove to see the Knight side. We had an entertaining slide show of the most awkward family photos and a beautiful nativity, with our nieces and nephews playing the rolls. When Brandon and I got home we read a Christmas story and read a few verses from the Bible, I get so caught up in the presents that I often forget the true reason for the season. 

*Christmas Day we got up and I had made monkey bread the night before, I made enough for 5 families... Brandon and I spent the morning together, just us two- for the last time. We talked about what next year would be like and how excited and scared we are to see how this is all going to work out! Around 1 we headed to see my sisters and their families, we quickly stopped by their houses to see the loot Santa brought their kids and then went to my Moms for dinner.  One of my best friends Cortnie lived two doors away my entire life and she was at her parents on Christmas, so we got a quick belly shot- we are only 3 weeks apart.  We draw names for gifts on that side and exchange them. My sister Jenny got me the necklace in the post below and I cried when she gave it to me, it was so thoughtful and meant so much to me and I have an insane amount of hormones running through me!! 

*It was a great couple of days, but I think Brandon and I were both relieved for it to be over... it is a stressful time of year! (Not to mention drill competition season starts and finishes my holiday season every year.) We took down our tree a few days after and we both keep saying how nice and clutter free our house is. 

My sisters and I

Waiting at Texas Roadhouse

Lindsay, me, Mary, and Natalie (baby Dylan)

at the Knight Christmas Eve

Bk and I on Christmas Eve

 

Marley on Christmas morning!

Me (25wks) and Cortnie (22wks)

I have a boy, she has a girl.

----------------

On a side note, the nursery is coming along.  It is painted and trim is starting to be hung.  I am taking pictures at different phases in the process and will post them when we are finished! I can't believe our son will be here is three (approx.) months.  I am so excited to meet him, get to know him, and be his Mom.  I hope that we do him justice as parents... it is so amazingly scary to know that you are meant to shape this gift, pregnancy and children are such a reassurance of God and his role in our lives. I am scared beyond belief and hope to do the best job that I can with my son. So much left to do for him and time is getting short! One day at a time! 

Xoxo,

Kelli

lunch date!

Today I got together with some of my oldest and loveliest friends! 

We went to Robintino's (YUMMM) 

and sat and talked for another hour and a half after we were through eating. 

I sure do love having great friends, 

they mean so much to me and it was nice to see them at this time of year! 

We go far too long without seeing each other sometimes, 

but when we do get together... 

it is like not one day has passed. 

So for your viewing pleasure, 

an oldie-but a goodie from the past and the current picture from today! 

Happy Holidays!!

Cortnie, Brooke, Me, Shantel, Tiffanie

February 2003

Tiffanie, Me, Brooke, Cortnie

December 2011

xoxo,

Kelli

baby boy making my belly grow!

Well, here are the beginnings of my belly.

It has even popped out some more since the last picture.

I am 19 weeks on Thursday.

I am so anxious to hear my sons heart beat again on Monday.

I have my "big" ultrasound on Nov. 23rd

I get to see the cool things, 3-D images, lots of different pictures.

I am just getting so excited.

I wonder what my son will look like.

What his personality will be like.

I have had day dreams of a black curly haired boy,

 with blue eyes... running after me.

But I would be happily surprised with a blonde haired boy.

Really, I am just excited to see the beginning of mine and Brandon's family.

To see them come to Earth and hope that we don't mess up too bad! 

I just want my boy to get here, healthy.

I think I personally know more than 15 pregnant people right now.

I'm so excited for my son to have so many friends coming to the world.

xoxo,

kelli + squishy boy 

making my belly big.

Quick CA Trip

We headed to Orange County for the weekend for Brandon's brothers wedding.  It was a very quick trip-- less than 72 hours, but we packed in what we could! Here is a quick recap via pictures!

At the rehearsal dinner

 The newest Knight wife

 cute Kasey

 Huntington

 Boogie Boarding

 catching sand crabs

 Jamie and I

 Nat and I

 (Nicki and Paula had already left)

 classic sunglasses pic

 Groom and Bk

 The Bride and me

 First Dance

 our attempt at goofy faces

Leaving for the Airport

That was our quick trip!

P.S. CA freeways suck, I could never live there. 

xoxo,

K

eminem is my jam right now.

And I just can't keep living this way
So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage
I'm standing up, I'ma face my demons
I'm manning up, I'ma hold my ground
I've had enough, now I'm so fed up
Time to put my life back together right now!


I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)
To take a stand (to take a stand)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my hand (come take my hand)
We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road


Played this on repeat all day today. 


An amazing friend left me a little pick me up on my car today, I got it after my morning drill team practice and I got in my car and literally cried when I got it... because I am having a rough week, and I needed it probably even more than she could have ever known. I am so blessed to have such good friends and an amazing family, not to mention my husband who is my rock, who I would be lost without.  


On a different note from Eminem, 


Gordon B. Hinckley said: 
"‎keep trying, be believing, be happy, don't get discouraged, things will work out"


I am trying really really hard to live this quote right now. 


xoxo,
K

Emma Watson on Modesty

"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. 

If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me – 

dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. 

Then there’s the choice of clothes. 
I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. 

But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. 

It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. 

I wouldn’t do that. 

Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. 

What’s sexy about saying, 

‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ 

My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder."

I love this more than words can say.

You go girl.

xoxo,

K

BDT 2011

Well,  BDT was amazing- as usual- this year. 

I love that at camp I get to see the potential of my team and it gets me extremely excited for the year.  

We had a few rough moments at camp, that included two urgent care visits- 

one for a pulled hip flexer,

the other for extreme dehydration 

(she passed out in the lunch line and was unconscious), 

which meant I was a little (okay a lot) stressed, 

and I wasn't at camp as much as I normally am.  

My captain was amazing, 

she ran the team and worked so hard and brought her team together in my absence. 

I am so incredibly proud of my team and how they danced at camp...  

THEY WORKED SO HARD!! 

I heard from so many coaches and BDT staff members about how great my girls looked and how much potential they have--- and I couldn't agree more! 

My girls were kind, hard workers, positive, friendly, and did I mention how talented they are?! 

So they came home with BDT's best award "Most Inspiration Team!"  

The reason this award is so cool, is because not only does the staff vote on it...

But each team votes on who inspired them most that week.

What a huge compliment!! 

So, a BIG Thank You to BDT for helping my girls on their journey this season,

it's just the beginning and the best is yet to come.

2011-2012 **Beat with One Heart!** 

xoxo,

Coach.

four years {anniversary}

May 2006

November 2006

(Please notice my hubby's earrings)

September 2006

May 2007

 May 2007

 June 26, 2007

June 26, 2007

August 2007

LP September 2007

May 2008

 August 2008

 March 2009

 July 2009

Oct 2009

 July 2010

 September 2010

 June 2011

2011

My husband is my very best friend.

I know it is cheesy to say you "can't imagine life without your spouse."

But I literally cannot fathom where I would be without Brandon.

He is my rock.

He is kind, strong, and above all honorable.

I love him more and more every. day.

I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have him for the rest of forever.

Happy 4th Anniversary to my husband.

I love you now and always.

Love,

Kelli