Zee Caboose: 2014

Well a lot has happened since last I blogged. Nick and I lived in Holladay for 4 1/2 months and made some great memories. We had a wonderful time with our great roommates. Noel and Melissa were so fun to have around and the memories are priceless. Christmas was so different and completely fun. We picked out a tree and sang carols and made yummy cookies :) It was fun!

The rest of the time living there was seeing Zander grow. He learned to go up stairs (not down), standing, walking, says dog and is just so darn cute! He really is a joy to have around and will always make his mommy and daddy smile. Melissa was amazing at watching Zander and playing with him all the time. Out of everything the best part of living together was watching Melissa with Zander. She was so patient and great.

In the middle of February we started looking at homes. Many homes and many up and downs. Finally we found the one for us! We closed on a home around March 16 and moved in on April 16. We have not taken pictures yet because we have a hard time finding the perfect time. Plus next week we are getting our first PIANO! I can't explain how excited I am to have this piano finally in our home. I really want to be able to play hymns.

A week before the move I started working with Recommended Cleaning Maintenance. I started cleaning a building in down town and I am so glad to announce that this is the last week I have to clean there. There are two companies in the same building that I clean for. The downstairs people are not fun to work for but the upstairs is a call center and although it takes a lot more time to clean I like it up there a whole lot more. But I am being moved to a place in Bountiful and I hope it cuts commute time

With this cleaning job I have started listening to many books and I also wanted to share them on this.

"The Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain. So good. The reader was great and the book was fun to listen to. I recommend!

"Rather Outspoken" read and written by Dan Rather. Very good! I learned a lot about media and the hoops that have to be jumped to get things right. It was frustrating to hear how much bureaucracy influences what, when, how, and where the news is or isn't covered. But also good to hear another side of what has gone on in the world. As much as I liked Dan Rather in this book I LOVED his wife! I really look up to her and I know that she was a good woman who supported a man who wasn't much of a husband or father. He was gone a lot a lot a lot! I couldn't do it. I recommend!

"Unsinkable" read and written by Debbie Reynolds. So fun! I was hesitant at first because I like her and didn't want to think less of her. BUT... it was great! I really like her and with her reading this book it was fantastic! I like her even more. I recommend!

"Frank" about Frank Sinatra by James Kaplan. Didn't finish buy very enlightening but swears a lot and I couldn't do it. Don't recommend.

"Heat Wave" by Richard Castle. Didn't get into it... didn't get past chapter 1... Don't recommend.

"John Quincy Adams" by Harlow Giles Unger. Boring... Don't recommend.

"Betsy Ross and the Making of America" by Marla R. Miller. Didn't get into it... Don't recommend.

"James Stewart" by Donald Dewey. Interesting but slow. Didn't finish but liked the first part. Recommend.

"Anne of the Island" by L.M. Montgomery. LOVE!!!! The reader is great! I love the story! I love it! Recommend over and over again!

"The Partner" by John Grisham. Predictable. Don't recommend.

"Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. So great! The reader was great. The story is based on Louis Zamperini's experiences and life. She did a lot of research and it was amazing. It is very real and doesn't hesitate in descriptions. I loved the end. I recommend!!!!

"Seriously... I'm kidding" read and written by Ellen DeGeneres. Funny and creative. Very light and easy to listen to. Recommend.

"Gandhi" by Mohandas K. Gandhi. Interesting but LONG.... didn't make it far in this book. Don't recommend

"Audition" by Barbara Walters. Interesting and good but I didn't care after a while. I want to listen to her father's autobiography. He sounds interesting. Recommend maybe...

Nick and I have had an amazing year. Nick worked at Conservice for 2 1/2 years but left in November for a new job in Salt Lake City. In our Logan ward he was the Clerk and did the best job ever! He became a dad this year too and has enjoyed every moment.

I quit my job a month before Zander came so I could get ready. I was serving in the RS Presidency and became President in May. It was a great learning experience and I really did love the women I served. Zander and I have become best friends and we enjoy making each other laugh.

Zander was born on June 6, 2013 8lb 4oz and 21" long. He is happy most of the time and very adventurous. Here are a few of his milestones for the year 2013

Birth/Month 1 - hold up head

Month 3 - rolls onto tummy, first haircut

Month 4 - crawling (pushes with back legs), scoots

Month 5 - first two bottom teeth, says dadadada

Month 6 - says mamamama

Most of these pictures are most recent to not as recent. I just got the videos working so I hope you enjoy!