What we have been up to....

Pictures from our trip to Disneyland in January. Pathetic I know! We went with Andrew's parents and had such a wonderful time. We love you guys! Thanks for such a fun trip!

This picture is for Hunter and Noah. They love Handy (Manny?). We love you guys!

Us in the bug life's world.

It was my first trip to Seaworld and I absolutely loved it!! The shamu show was amazing!

We were able to feed and pet the dolphins. They feel like a slimy balloon. I know that's sounds weird, but that is the only way I can think to describe it.


It has been so long since Andrew and I have updated our blog. We are still alive and kicking. We just don't have internet right now and never have time to update our blog at our parents houses, but today I decided I would. We have been having lots of fun with family and friends. We have welcomed some new additions to our family Madeline and Jeremy, Brett and Ali's new twins. We love them to pieces and can't wait to go visit them soon.:) We moved again. We are now living in my Grandma's basement and love being there with her. She always has great advice and we feel so blessed to spend this time with her. Andrew had a week summer vacation and is now back at school :(, but he is taking a week off to go visit my sister and her family in Michigan. We are so excited and can't wait to see them. They have lived there almost two years and this will be our first visit there. Other than that things are about the same. I'm still working at ARUP and am enjoying it there. Andrew is excited that he will be taking his last math class this summer (calc 3 yuck!). We love this sunny/warm weather and can't wait to have lots of barbeques, snow cones, vacations, and spend time with family and friends. We hope you all are doing well!

Miracles

Well to start off Andrew and I are very sorry for neglecting our blog for so long. Life has been pretty busy with the holidays, but we have been loving every minute of it. We celebrated our first year anniversary on December 15th. I am so grateful for Andrew and the wonderful first year we've had together. He is such a wonderful husband, he is such a positive, outgoing, and service oriented person. He is so supportive of me and always takes time for us. Thanks babe! Sorry for the mush, but since I didn't write about our first anniversary I thought I better tell him how much I love him!

On a different note Andrew and I were talking the other night about the new year and how excited we were, when we started thinking about all the miracles we've witnessed in 2008. So instead of writing our new year's resolutions, we thought we would right about some of the things we were most grateful for in 2008.

-celebrating our first year together (not that I thought we wouldn't make it)

-surviving mono, ulcers, and chicken pox (we gained a greater testimony of prayer and patriarchal blessings)

-We were called to be Primary Children's representatives when we first moved into our ward. We witnessed so many miracles at this hospital. I know that Heavenly Father loves his little children and that he will help us through our trials. One night we received a call that someone needed a blessing. So Andrew and his friend Zach and I ran up to the hospital and found a little 3 month old baby all by herself. We wondered if we should give her a blessing without her parents there, but the nurse told us that her Mother was still driving to the hospital from Southern Utah and that she didn't care if she was there or not, she just wanted to know that her baby had received a blessing. What incredible faith this Mother had.

-I finally got a new job. I truly consider this a miracle. I've been looking for quite awhile and with the economy it was pretty difficult. All of the people I spoke with said that for each job they had listed they had over 60 applicants. I realize times are getting tough out there, so I am so grateful for work.

-Andrew and I are also so grateful for the wonderful Christmas we had. I have to say it was one of my most memorable Christmas's so far. It was so fun to wake up and have hot chocolate with peppermint sticks and sit in front of the tree with Andrew and open presents and then head off to our families houses. This Christmas we truly witnessed the power of forgiveness and the pure love of Christ. We are so grateful for our sweet families and for all the blessings they bring into our lives. So thank you family! We love you!!

The list could go on and on, but I don't want to make you read all that. :) So anyhow we are really excited for the new year and all it will bring. We wish you all a Happy New Year and a very belated Merry Christmas!

Love,

The Madsens

Life...

For Andrew and I lately life has been full of decisions. We have been living on a roller coaster lately, but it has been fun. We have been able to step out of the norm (literally) and see all of our many blessings. So since it is that time of year and I have some much to be grateful for I thought I would like so many others (thanks ash) tell you what I am grateful for this Thanksgivning:

-I am so grateful for my sweet husband who supports me in all that I do and all the decisions I make.
-My family who I miss and wish I could see everyday. I can't wait for all of us to be together over the hollidays!
-My beliefs and my calling. I love the nursery! The kids teach me so much about life.
-Friends and neighbors who are always there for you!
-Our apartment!!! Even though it's tiny, it's home!
-The Christmas season approaching and all it brings
-Older adults and the wisdom they share
-Chocolate oranges or raspberries
-Mashed potatoes
-Work
-A life full of suprizes

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pictures from Halloween even though it's almost Thanksgiving

Well I thought I would post some pictures from Halloween even though it is almost Thanksgiving:). We are a little behind to say the least. We really should have dressed up for Halloween this year, but you how busy life can get. Sorry I'm a nerd :) and don't know how to rotate these pictures, but we had a great time at the ward Halloween party.

Here are our neighbors the Wallaces and Kravers. Great Costumes guys! Thank you for the fun party Wallaces, Kravers, Sharps, and Christensens!

Tag

Top 3 Favorite Vacations

1. Hawaii

2. Prince Edward Island/Maine

3. In Utah (Fleming Gorge and St. George)

Top 3 Favorite Flowers

1. tulips

2. tiger lilies

3. hydrangas

Top 3 Favorite "comfort" foods (healthy I know :)

1. ice cream

2. chocolate

3. mashed potatoes

Top 3 places to shop (honestly I hate shoping for clothes, but I love shopping for decorating stuff)

1. Tai Pan

2. Target

3. Home Depo

Top 3 opinions about halloween

1. I don't like haunted houses, but I love corn mazes

2. Love to have/make chili and corn bread

3. Love to be with family and friends and love to see my nieces and nephews Halloween costumes

Top 3 opinions about thanksgiving

1. Love the food (cabbage casserole, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie)

2. Love being with family and eating leftovers with family afterwards :)!

3. Christmas music starts the day after

Top 3 opinions about Christmas

1. I love the spirit of Christmas and the gift of giving

2. The night before listening for Santa Claus's foot steps with my simblings and being so excited I can't sleep

3. Decorating the tree with family and then sitting around the tree and singing Christmas carols

Top 3 things you look forward to in the week

1. Mom, Bre and Noah coming home

2. hanging out with friends and our neighbors

3. raking leaves and Halloween fun

Top 3 events happening this week

1. Craving Pumpkins

2. Ward Halloween Party (The Wallaces, Kravers, and Sharps make it sound so fun! Good job planning guys!)

3. My sister-in-law Ali's Birthday (Happy Birthday Ali! Love you!)

I tag who ever would like to do this. It is fun :)!

Ainsley Beth's First Birthday

I can't believe our cute little niece Ainsley Beth is turning one year old today! She is so darling and such a joy to our family. She is in Michigan so I can't watch eat her first cupcake and smear frosting all over her face and hair, but I do want her to know how much her we love her and that we have been thinking about her all day! She is now a walking, talking, one year old. We are also excited for my cute brother and sister-in-law who just found out they're expecting twins!Congratulations you guys!!! We will be so excited to have two new sweet spirits in our family! And don't worry Andrew and I plan on helping as much as possible! Andrew and I love our nieces and nephews to pieces and love to spend as much time with them as possible. We hope we will be good parents like all of you are and have as cute of kids :). Happy birthday Ainsley Beth! Love you!

Happy Birthday Andrew and Ashley!

Well I am a little behind, but I wanted to wish Andrew and Ashley a very happy birthday. Andrew's birthday was on Friday and Ashley birthday was on Saturday. I just wanted both of them to know how much I love them. Andrew is a constant support to me. He is such an example of kindness and is always willing to serve others. On his birthday we went to dinner with his parents to the Dodo and then came to our apartment and opended presents. And since my cute sister Ashley is so far away I could only call and wish her a happy birthday and send her a present. So Ash just so you know Andrew and I love you and were thinking about you all day on your birthday. You are such an example to me and I have always looked up to you. Well enough with the mushy stuff and sorry for the delay, but just so you know I love you both and am so glad you were born!! Oh and Ash sorry for the pregnant picture (it's the only one I could find of all four of us and I wanted Ainsley to be present in some way!:)