November 30th

Did you know that today is a very important day? Probably not. And that is why I am writing this post.

Two years ago today. November 30, 2012.

The Festival of Trees is a wonderful fundraiser benefiting Primary Children's Hospital. It happens every year and while I always thought it would be fun to go, I hadn't made it. 2012 was different. Porter was in his final rounds of chemo and Primary's had become a second home. Plus his home health nurse had donated a tree and decorated it with his patients favorite treats - that meant that Porter's favorite (nasty) orange Circus Peanuts would be on the tree. That meant I had to go and it is a very good thing I did.

I went with Cami, of course, and a bunch of friends. We looked at all of the trees. They are really impressive and I so recommend going. Sydney was there too, so we had to get a sister picture with Porter's tree and I am so glad we did, because it is the only picture documentation I have of that very important day.

sweetest tree

As we were leaving, I looked behind me and caught the eye of someone I knew. It was Ashton. We hadn't talked for at least a year and I wasn't sure he even knew who I was so I wasn't going to say anything. Lucky for me, he smiled and said hi. We chatted for a bit and made plans for when he was done with finals.

The whole time Cami and I were eating Chick-fil-A (of course), I just kept telling her how darling I thought Ashton was and how I just wanted to be friends with him. I couldn't stop thinking about him, I mean, have you seen that smile?!

Little did I know that within 6 months of that day he would become my best friend AND husband.

Here's to one year, six months, and 6 days of marriage. I know I already mentioned Ashton in my gratitude post, but I just love him so much! I am so grateful for the run ins and two dates we had prior to meeting again on November 30th. I give Ashton a hard time for taking so long (seriously, we could have done this back in 2009), but I am happy I had those years to grow and go on adventures. He makes me so happy. We just got back from our "babymoon staycation" in Salt Lake and it was the best. He is perfect for me and I just super really love him.

OK. Thanks for reading my lovey gushy post.

g r a t i t u d e

It's that time of year. The time when we dream of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin everything. That time when we get an extra long weekend. That time when, despite all of the cold and grey, everyone has extra holiday pep in their step. But more importantly, it is that time where we sit back and reflect on all those things we are grateful for.

My heart is overwhelmed when I think of all that is happened so far in 2014.

2014 had a very rough start for us with a miscarriage in January and one again in April. And while it still hurts, a hurt that will never go away, it has made me beyond grateful for where we are now. Here I am, 22 weeks pregnant with a sweet baby girl. I know all parents love their children, but I truly believe my love for this baby is not different, but comes with a lot more thankfulness.  My best friend sent me this post she had found and it is perfect, especially her last paragraph which includes,  "Infertility sucks for everybody it touches. But it's also it's own kind of wonderful, I think. Especially once the baby you've fought for is won. Those babies are spectacular; those babies are worth it." Baby girl is my miracle. (I have a collection of articles and links that helped me through everything and, like I have said before, someday they will make their way to my blog)

I am also grateful for the time we spent in Minnesota. I love and miss all of our friends there. Sure, the winter was miserably cold, but it was also a lot of fun! Lots of movies, crafts, games, and time inside.  We grew a lot, met many amazing and wonderful people, and most importantly, learned to be married (which, if I haven't mentioned before, is really easy when you're married to Ashton).

And that brings me to Ashton. Wow did I score. He has seen me on a rollercoaster of feelings this year and he continues to both be patient with me and everyone. Watching him has taught me to have patience. And then there is the way he takes care of me. When I would get sick, he just sat in the dark room with me, magically appearing with water, saltines, tylenol, and even mac 'n cheese. It is fun to watch him get ready to be a dad, snuggling with Millie and caring for our handsome pup.

Then there is Thor. I am grateful for a dog that has a cute whine and no idea how to mean bark. He only has accidents occasionally. He loves people almost as much as he loves food. And he is the perfect dog for our family.

Family. I am so grateful for my family. After a year in Minnesota, which was great, but we sure missed having family around. Now, we get to live with my parents and see them ALL of the time. "It's the best! I love it." And my fantastic in-laws (I seriously could not have married into a better family) are only half an hour away. We are so blessed to be surrounded by people we love so much.

I am grateful for my friends. You guys know who you are. To those who send me the thinking of you texts just when I need them. Or the flowers that made everything better. The friends who I can meet up with for breakfast and spend hours just talking with. Or the friends that live far away, the ones I get to see once a year if I am lucky. To those friends who we watch Tom Hanks movies with. The friends who we make plans with for more than a year from now (here's to summer 2016!). To those friends that I can always be my true BYU fanatic with. My friends are the greatest.

I am grateful for my job. Teaching has gotten hard (it has changed a lot over the past 6 years), but my students this year are amazing with their kind words, pictures, and little notes. Middle school isn't so bad after all :)

Most of all I am grateful for the gospel, for my Savior, and that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am so grateful that Ashton and I were able to be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity just over a year and a half ago. I am grateful to know that families are forever. Grateful for the relationship I have with my Savior. Grateful for a prophet to guide and lead us in these latter days. Grateful for the Book of Mormon. I have truly felt my Heavenly Father's love throughout this year and my life - for that, I am so grateful.

Best Buddies Dinner

Best Buddies. I joined in 2003 as a sophomore in high school and fell in love. It is the reason why I am a special educator today.

A little more than a year ago, I wrote this post about my dad and how he became a board member for Best Buddies Utah. I was (and continue to be) impressed and incredibly proud of my dad.

On the 13th, the Thorkelson clan went to a dinner for Best Buddies Utah, their biggest fundraiser of the year. We got there and opened the program. On the first page we found this:

He had no idea and neither did we. What a privilege it was to see him recognized and then hear him talk for a bit about how Best Buddies has changed him. I loved Best Buddies in high school and I am so grateful to my dad, who has brought it back into our family.

 ** On a side note: They had some items they were raffling off, as well as a silent auction. Ashton and I bought a few tickets and found the most adorable yellow baby girl basket. Of course, we stuck most all of our tickets in that one. We won :) I love collecting clothes (and all types of goodies) for our sweet baby.

pictures of baby girl smith

it's a G I R L

Ashton and I went in for my 20 week ultrasound on Friday. It was 30 minutes of magic. We saw baby's face, feet, spine, heart and watched in awe as she wiggled around.

We didn't want to find out the gender until we had made it back with all of our family, so the kind nurse gave us a little note to give the baker who had agreed to frost donuts pink or blue and stick them in a cake box.

The Smith's and Thorkelson's gathered for pizza and the big reveal. After some socializing and lots of happiness, Ashton and I went to open our box of donuts.

It was perfect. Everything about our little girl is already perfect. I have been feeling her moving, but Saturday I finally felt her moving against my hand! It feels like a dream.

And here are the pictures from our perfect night.

votes at school vs. votes at home

just in case you wanted more than the video

i know it is hard to see, but that is a P I N K frosted donut

We are in love.

thor and a grape

Thor. Thor. Thor.

He is our most favorite dog ever and my brother snapped some really cool pictures of him, I just have to share. Then, I have a very Thor story for you.

Always on his daddy's lap.

Why he loves the car.

That face though.

The bond that he has with Ashton is unbelievably sweet and to say he makes us happy is an understatement.

So, on Friday night, when he decided to eat a grape, we were worried. I had read before that grapes could be lethal to dogs and we quickly called an animal ER. They suggested we come in so that they could attempt to make him throw it up and do some blood tests to make sure he wasn't going into renal failure.

We rushed Thor to the doctor and we were there from 9:30 to 11:30 pm. It was just great. Long story short, Thor is alright. We had to take him back in Saturday night just to test his blood once more and everything looked fine.

Best part. Today, Thor and I were in the kitchen and I was going into the fridge to get myself some pickles (pregnant much). Guess what? The bag of grapes,  placed precariously on the edge of the fridge shelf, toppled over. I went into panic mode and rushed to pick up grapes, while Thor went into food frenzy mode and rushed to the juicy green grapes. I fished one out of his mouth, put him the corner, and told him to sit while I picked them up. 

Everything is fine now, grapes just make my heart beat a little faster now.