Our 4 year "Meetaversary"

It was four years ago that Matt and I officially met after having known of each other for almost 3 years! I wanted to share a little about how we met. Matt's mother met me while I was working at the adidas outlet in Draper. She noticed I was deaf (her daughter is deaf) and told me I should write to her son, Matt, who was on his mission and later when he came home she came back into my work and said you should go out with my son he is home. I declined as I had a boyfriend at the time and the 2nd time she came in I had gotten my mission call and was leaving in a couple of weeks. So we never met until a week after I got home from my mission. We were set up on a blind date by his mother and my good friend Nicole. Matt didn't even want to go on this date and so his mother coerced him by saying she would pay for the date if he would go.... Geeesh.... I had seen a picture of him but he had never seen a picture of me so he had no idea what to expect. He knew I was deaf and thought he would have to use more sign language and expected me not to be able to talk as well as I do.  He tells me when he first laid eyes on me... He knew I was the one he was going to marry. I can remember clearly that he stared at me the whole night. We had gone on a double date to Fat Catz with my friends who were getting married the next day. I remember just loving it that he kept staring at me and a few times made eye contact and smiled big! I was thinking man this guy is tall and I think I could get used to this. We had a great night and from then on we hit it off and got married almost 7 months later.  I love you Matt and I am so ever grateful for all you do for me! I feel like I am such a lucky wife with a husband who is so caring, thoughtful, never yells...(seriously I have never seen him yell or get mad). He truly makes me happy! Happy Meetaversary Matt! I love you in World! 

We went to Brick Oven for a little fun night out!

Brooklyn loves artichoke and tomato pizza!

Daddy and his little girl.....

On the way to Brick Oven, Brooklyn kept asking Daddy

to hold her hand... It was so sweet...

Shari's Scar Ordeal

Sad about my cut.......

Can I say OUCH!

Can you tell I am cringing in pain!

Doc about to put in the stitches!

See my fat lip and stitches?

Getting ready to take out my stitches 5 days later

Like my surgical bed?

What a great Doc I have!

What was I worried about? Ain't there no scar showing! I got lucky!

Ok its about time I do a blog entry... Believe me I have been thinking that I needed to do it but time has not allowed me until now... Well really I should be in bed but what the heck! So I am going to share my basketball experience I had a couple of weeks ago in Montana.  I play on the Utah Women's Deaf basketball team and we had a tournament in Great Falls, Montana (beautiful place by the way). Our team was playing in the championship game and we were winning, well pretty much clobbering the other team. It was only like 15 minutes into the 1st half when I and and an opposing player were going for the ball (neither one of us got it) but it ended up that her eyebrow area smashed into my face in the nose, upper lip, mouth area and OH BOY! Did that hurt or what! I was hurling on the ground covering my face cause it hurt so bad and there was pounding as pain seeped through my face I was surprised no teeth had been knocked out with the kind of impact it was. My coach came over and was signing to me are you okay, can you see, is your nose broken... I finally moved my hands and he made what looked like to me a very grave face and said, I think you need to go to the hospital.... I was like what! NO! What the heck for there isn't anything wrong but then he said, you have a cut above your lip and the first thing I said (well rather signed) was No, I don't want a cut, I don't want to have an ugly scar... I started bawling my eyes out and was so nervous about this cut above my lip that my coach was trying hard not to laugh (he later apologized and said I am so sorry for laughing but if a guy were to get some kind of cut they would be so thrilled to have one because it would be so cool to have a scar, but you were thinking totally opposite of that and were worried about having a scar on your face.) Anyways, I ended up going to the hospital crying and worrying the whole time. I got a look in the bathroom before I left and I could split it open.... ewww! My teammates showed up after the game (we won!) and were able to arrive in time to see me get my stitches. OUCH! The numbing shots were worst than getting hit in the face, not to mention 4 different times did the doctor poke me! I have posted pictures of the whole ORDEAL.... hahhahaha I think I made a big deal out of it more than necessary but hey I always worry about how I look. I told my teammates that Heavenly Father was trying to teach me about not being so VAIN... since I always look in the mirror to make sure I look ok... I know I am not perfect but I sure didn't want to have some nasty scar above my  lip! It seems to have turned out great... Thank Goodness! I keep thinking what was the whole point in this happening to me... Well when I went to the hospital, I had an interpreter with me and while we waited for about an hour and half, we had time to talk and I was able to talk to her about the church, more about my mission though and so I keep wondering if this was supposed to happen so that this interpreter and I could meet. I hope she has the urge to learn more and investigates! Guess we will see when we all go to heaven! :)

This is the Bailey Family addicted to SPAGHETTI!

Aim!

Slirp!

Swallow!

She is becoming a true spaghetti eater! Spaghetti is a family favorite of ours and its so easy and quick to make! Brooklyn could sit for hours slirping all the noodles and eat bowls and bowls of canned diced tomatoes! I wonder where she gets that from... her MOM and DAD! We love spaghetti, MORE SPAGHETTI we say! Growing up my mom bought a book, "More Spaghetti I Say!" and I would read it over and over again wishing I was the one eating spaghetti everywhere! If you haven't read the book go check it out at the library. I can remember how I imagined the spaghetti would taste and how I thought I could never get sick of it if I ate it all day, everyday.... so typical for a kid to think that way. Each birthday growing up we got to choose what we wanted for dinner, I am sure you could guess what I chose... YEP SPAGHETTI! Okay so this is a silly post about spaghetti but hey we love it! Enjoy the pictures!

I just had to post this cute picture of Brooklyn... I can't believe how big she is getting! I love this little gal and how much happiness she brings into our family.  Matt and I feel truly blessed she chose to come to our family... There is some significance as to why I posted this picture. I had a dream when I was pregnant, before Matt and I knew whether we were having a girl or a boy. In the dream was a young girl and I was playing and running around with this young girl... this picture looks so much like the little girl I saw in my dream. I knew in the back of mind that the girl in my dream was going to be my little girl someday... I like to think that before I was born I was playing and interacting with the girl that would someday be my little girl and the dream was but a small remembrance of life before we came to earth. As I think about this I am reminded of the hymn song, O My Father, and this particular line sticks out to me: 

For a wise and glorious purpose thou hast placed me here on earth and withheld the recollection of my former friends and birth. Yet ofttimes a secret something whispered, "You're a stranger here," and I felt that I had wandered from a more exalted sphere.

I love you sweet Brooklyn....

Hey mom look!

Don't I look pretty with your eye liner!

Playing with mom's jewelry too!

The other day I was getting ready for work and while I was facing one direction into the mirror on the wall, Brooklyn (ignorantly) used my deafness and got into my make up drawer! When I turned around she was putting eye liner on her eyes, or so she was trying too!  It's amazing how smart she is and how she can copy and knows what make up is for.  My mother took a picture of me when I was a little bit older than Brooklyn is now with my whole face full of beautiful black mascara. I need to get that picture and post it along with Brooklyn's but I gotta find it first... Mom has it. Brooklyn is so intelligent... I know most parents say that about their kids but she is something. She knows so many words, knows the sign language for them, and she loves to sing! Matt and I figured out a long time ago if we sing she calms down. So if you ever hear us singing, I looked out the window and what did I see followed by Once there was a snow man, snow man, snow man followed by I love mommy she loves me and 20 other songs in a row it's because she is like the energizer bunny and keeps signing (and saying) AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN! So Matt and I have become quite the duet! We even thought of trying out for American Idol! I always tell matt I hope to sing in the choir in heaven and sing a solo! Ironic for a deaf gal to say!  

I love Valentines Day although I wasn't able to get any valentines out like I wanted to. I have two batches of sugar cookie dough still in the fridge. I had planned on making the cookies and some other valentine items when I finally had time last night but it didn't happen... The snow storm decided to kick in and prevent me from even coming home at all last night. But I am grateful for all the snow we have been getting.

I was at work, Brooklyn was with a babysitter in SLC and Matt was on his way to pick us up. He left Saratoga Springs at 4:30 pm and realized he was never going to make in time to pick me up to get me to my city league basketball game at 6:30 pm (which eventually was cancelled) because it took him 2 hours to drive 5 miles. He decide to turn around and go home to wait out the storm... he ended up driving 5 miles in 3 hours trying to get home, ended up parking his car at Smiths and walked the 10 min walk to our home in the freezing, 70 mph winds! He had but a thin jacket on and felt as though he were a pioneer trekking his way to the Salt Lake Valley.  (I can't even imagine traveling many miles in the snow... How strong our ancestors must have been...). Matt made it home but not without realizing he had left the house key in the car and no neighbors were home for him to warm up in. So he made the trip back to the car and walked back home again. He would later walk back again at 1:30 am to pick up the car when the traffic had dispersed. 

During Matt's adventure, I was still stuck at work and had been there since 9:00 am, it was 6:30 pm by the time I was able to borrow my sister in law's (Lindsey) car. Thank goodness she works at the same place as I do. I was able to go and pick up Brooklyn who was supposed to be picked up at 5:oo-ish. So I got Brooklyn came back to work and waited for Lindsey to get off work at 8:30 pm and then headed to Draper to stay the night since traffic was still bad in Saratoga Springs. What a long day it was and I still didn't get to do my valentines but I dang it I am still going to make them and give them away as a belated valentine! :) 

This morning, I was able to get home and Matt surprised me with a bouquet of flowers and a basket full of heart stuff. He also gave me a really funny card that totally describes both him and I.  The front of the card says, To my wife, "Did you know you're cute when your aggravated?" Then when you try to open the card it doesn't open! It's actually glued together! hahahahaha so of course I try to pry it open thinking what the heck! Then on the back it says, "See? Happy Valentines Day from the one who aggravates you the most!" hahhahahaha it was hilarious.  Matt really loves to push my buttons because he thinks it's so cute! I just love that guy! 

For Valentines Day we decided we wanted to paint one of our walls red and so we did just that! Matt also made me yummy honey butter shrimp with mango tacos for dinner that I love! Bajio has this on their menu and so he tried to copy it. It was DELICIOUS! Brooklyn loved it too! She is a great seafood eater by the way.  

Matt and I take turns coming up with an idea for something to do on Valentines Day and he did such a wonderful job! I am already thinking of ideas for next Valentines Day since it's my turn! I love you Matt and Brooklyn says, I love you daddy!  Here are some pictures of a fun filled day!

Matt making honey shrimp with mango tacos

Cute Brooklyn in her Valentine hat! Isn't she adorable?

Valentine from my Sweetheart

Matt all decked out in red! GO UTES!

Putting up the tape! (No I didn't paint in my nice clothes...)

Okay it's been a while since I last posted a blog but I couldn't darn silly find the cord that allows me to download the pictures from the camera and I finally found it the other day. So some of the pictures I am posting are things that happened a few weeks ago but I still wanted to share! I have a few updates so it will take me a few blog post to get it all in! 

A while back I took a cake decorating class for fun and was able to try out my skills when my sister, Amie, asked if I could make a some kind of race car cake for my nephew Jake! I gladly decided to take a shot at it and really enjoyed it! Here was the end result!

Family at birthday party

Mom, Dad, Adam and Brooklyn

Uncle Eric and Brooklyn hanging out

Jake working hard on painting his race car

My sister Amie and her husband moved a couple weeks ago down to St. George! I was pretty sad since we won't get to see them often but I guess that means we will have to make more trips down there since Cam and Michelle live down there too! Eric got a marketing job with my the Fitness Ridge company.  Cam and Michelle own the company check out their Web site: www.fitnessridge.com

Its a great place to be and to learn how to eat and exercise without using weight loss pills, starving yourselves, protein shakes, etc. It really is a great weight loss facility! They were in the USA Today newspaper a couple months ago so they are getting some national recognition. I am so happy for them and for what a great business they have started. 

Since Amie and Eric were moving we had a small going away party for them and we sang this song that I absolutely love and it made me cry as we sang it to them:

From this valley they say you are going,

We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smiles;

For it seems you are taking the sunshine,

That has brightened our lives for a while.

Come and sit here a while 'fore you leave us.

Do not hasten to bid us adieu.

But remember us here in "Happy Valley",

And the family who loves you so true. 

We all miss you guys up here and can't wait to come down and visit you all!