Christmas E-Card for all my Bloggin' Buds!

Happy Holidays to all my friends in the Bloggin' World. I have been so thankful for you, especially in these past few months as we've tried to settle in and get to know people here in CA. Your comments are like Christmas presents. It's been so nice to be able to keep in touch with you, and I look forward to another great year of blogging!

Dear Family and Friends, December 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We hope this letter finds you all well and happy. We feel so blessed to have many wonderful people in our lives. Thank you for always being there for us and for your love and support. 2008 has been a busy and fun year for both of us, filled with many blessings and changes.

Our biggest news this year is that we are expecting our first child, a boy, due February 24, 2009. We are so excited to be parents and are trying to get ready for his arrival. Other big news is that this past August we made the move from Provo to Irvine, California in Orange County. We’re 10 minutes away from Newport Beach, and 30 minutes away from Disneyland! We’d love to have you come visit us as you plan your vacations! We are settled in and really love Southern California, the weather, the people, and our ward out here.

Jared spent the first half of the year enjoying his last few months as an MA student at BYU. He participated in his last Spanish Golden Age theatrical production in early Spring and worked on his Thesis all summer. Both of us are so thankful for the friends we’ve made through Jared’s master’s degree. It was hard to leave all our great friends at BYU and our family in Provo. Jared began his first quarter as a PhD student this September at the University of California, Irvine. He is studying Spanish Literature. He has really enjoyed his classes and professors so far and feels comfortable in the program here.

Emily spent the first half of the year finishing up her second year teaching dance at Granite Park Middle School in South Salt Lake, which included a concert in April. She has really enjoyed being a part of the middle school kids lives over the past two years. They have blessed her life as well and she misses her dancers. Emily is now working for a school district here in California in the city of Costa Mesa. She is a teacher in a program called “Project Success” and has a class of twenty 5^th and 6th graders for three hours after school every day. Elementary kids are very different than the middle schoolers she’s used to, but she loves working in a school again. Emily’s pregnancy has gone very well and she is feeling great. She was able to take a Hip-Hop class at the UCI gym across the street this past quarter. It has been fun to keep up some dancing through pregnancy.

May you all have a wonderful holiday season and feel the love of Jesus Christ in your lives. Don’t hesitate to call, email or stop by anytime! We love you all very much.

Love,

Jared, Emily and Baby Boy White

Merry Christmas Week!

This month I've had a little bit of the "bloggin' blues" I just haven't been able to find the motivation to write an interesting post! But I need something new so I hope you find these recent pics/pregnancy update interesting! I hope you're all having a wonderful Christmas week and enjoy some time with family. Although I've spent Christmas in California before this is my first time actually living here during the winter. I do miss the snow but am enjoying the warm weather at the same time. The other day it poured rain ALL day and I pretended it was snow, and it does get cold at night, so it still feels like a change in the season. Anyway . . .
We went to the ward Christmas Party in the ward Jared grew up in with his parents a couple Saturday's ago. This sweater isn't maternity but it's been working for me lately.Jared's high school friend Ben and his cute daughter Zoe.
Jared helped his dad load/unload and put up their Christmas tree!The tree!30 Weeks pregnant and our humble little tree . . . maybe we'll get a real one next year, i love real trees. When I was little we'd go cut one down ourselves at a farm in Payson.
Fun with the timer on our camera.
31 Weeks.

Baby Showers!

While in Utah over Thanksgiving My sister Becky and my friend Krista put on baby showers for me. It was SO great to see so many friends after being away in California. It was awesome to be surrounded by so many people who love and care about me and our little boy on the way. Thank you all who came or who sent your love and support. I'm feeling more prepared for his arrival! But still lots to do! I am 30 weeks this week! 7 more weeks and the baby would be considered full term! Also, if I was having multiples (like Kate Goselin for example - do you watch that show?) 30 weeks would be the time to deliver! Wow!
My big sis Becky and little sis Annie, my 6 year old niece Julia took this one, pretty good huh?With my Dad/Grandpa Wright
I love being an Auntie. The kids weren't so thrilled to be in this one b/c they were trying to watch Caillou
My 18 month niece was so cute, she wanted to touch and play with all the presents, even the breast pump box!
such a sweetie pie.
In addition to lots of other cool stuff, Jared's mom brought the outfit she made that Jared was blessed in all those years ago.
The Wood family, I taught them dance in their in-home studio through out college. They always encouraged me to apply and audition for things and supported me 100%. I love these girls!
My Grandma Wright, 93 years old! (Her mom lived to 102!) The baby's Great Grandma.
My pal Stephanie Haymore, a ballerina who has an adorable little boy.
At Krista's house, some of my BFF's Krista and Em
Cute outfits from Char who was in Vegas for the Holiday.
Valorie, we were in the Primary Presidency together at Wymount.
Fran, our friend who was also in Jared's program at BYU.
My roommate of 2 years, Katie! I was thinking and realized we were both present when the other met their future husband for the first time! She has two adorable kids.
My long time bud Krista! This was at her house.
Wymount/BYU 148th Primary pal Mallory! with the cute swim gear for the baby!
Sarah, our husbands were both in the Spanish program and we became great friends. She made this diaper cake herself!

Utah, Turkey, Family . . .

Wow! Way too long since the last post. The holidays are in full swing and since we got back from Utah for Thanksgiving I have been busy with Christmas stuff and with my new job, but I have lots of new pics to post! I'll just start with some of Thanksgiving Day. We made it to Utah on Wednesday night (ate at Cafe Rio in St. George! yay!)and had Thanksgiving at my parents. It was SO great to see the fam. Especially some of my nieces and nephews who I miss like crazy. Jared's whole family was there as well, which was awesome, family is what the holidays are all about! I loved the cold weather and seeing the snow on my mountains, as well as some of the Christmas lights around Provo that have been put up the same way for as long as I can remember. Sadly, no snow fell while we were there, I may just go a whole winter with out seeing it!
My Mom and I in her kitchen making some stuffing!
Me, niece Julia and my "little" brother Jonathan. Honestly I saw some of his friends on Wednesday night, all RM's and I still think they should be 12 years old.
The White gals, Jared's mom Patti, little sis Meri (pointing and our mini man) and big sis Jessica
Another girls pic, Mom, me, niece Eliza, sisters Becky and Anne, with Grandma Savage.
Becky has three small kids and still found the time to make 5 different and yummy pies!
Julia and Nathaniel were ready with their plates just seconds after the prayer!
My parents have an awesome tramp in the backyard, I got this great pic of Julia, the trees, the Winter mist and the moutains.
My Dad getting out the turkey, Jared's Dad and Chase.
My Family Thanksgiving pic.
My oldest nephew, Nathaniel.My dad and I.
At the end of the day we watched that new missionary movie with the Sister missionaries on TV. My Grandma drove all the way home to Cedar Hills and came all the way back to give us this baby gift (a great monitor!). My family baby shower was that Saturday and she was going to miss it because she was flying out to see another of her great grandchildren blessed in Texas. I love my Grandma. Pics of the shower in the next post!! Stay tuned.

Wow doing this post made me miss my Utah fam! I love you guys! Can't wait for you to come visit in the Spring!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!

I think this will be my last post until after Thanksgiving. We're excited to be heading out to Utah on Wednesday and to see all our family up there, especially our nieces and nephews who've all probably grown a ton since we last saw them three months ago. This weekend I was pretty productive! Did laundry, folded laundry, vacuumed, saw Twilight (what'd ya think?), and on Sunday Jared's mom Patti took some fun pics of us to use for our Christmas Card which I'm trying to get out earlier this year so people have our new address. Last night I had fun changing our blog look a little. I've never done a festive background and I figured it was about time!

Last weekend in Orange County . . .

Last weekend was pretty crazy around here. First of all, 800 homes were lost to wild fires as close as 20 miles away from us! I wanted to complain about the horrible air quality, but at least my home was still standing and I didn't have to evacuate! Then we had protesters at church over the whole Prop 8 thing. Our building is on the same plot of land as the beautiful Newport Beach Temple. The same entrance to get to church is the same entrance as the temple. We got a phone call Saturday afternoon from someone in the ward telling us it was going to happen and to just keep our windows up. I had mixed emotions seeing them just a few feet away from our car as we pulled up for church. Honestly, for a moment I wanted to giggle, they looked a little silly and their signs were completely ridiculous, but then I just wanted to cry. I just wish they'd see that we love them, it is not about hate,we really do want what is best for them, and Heavenly Father has a distinct purpose for them on earth, there is a plan of happiness. I spent time on Sunday thinking how blessed I am to have the gospel in my life and how important missionary work is. I can't imagine what life would be like without the knowledge and faith that I have. On Saturday we actually had dinner with another couple in our ward and the missionaries in our ward, it was great to talk with them. Anyway, well we're excited to be heading up to Utah for Thanksgiving next week! Sweater weather here I come!

Latest Rock Band Session at Jared and Em's . . .
P.S. Thanks everyone for the nice compliments after my last post, you are so sweet! It means a lot!

"Are you going to have a Baaaby?"

Alright so last week it kind of hit me, this belly of mine is growing and I look pregnant. I've known this for weeks, but last week is when it became apparent that people who may not know me or who I haven't told that I'm pregnant, can now tell just by looking. The way I'm carrying is what I would call "high and round", and not straight out. I can still do up most of my regular pants but my slimmer jeans are uncomfortable and I even wore maternity pants for the first time on Saturday, man there is no hiding anything in those! Here is how I came to this realization . . .
With the new job I have as a teacher in an after school program with Elementary kids, we have to wear these red polos. The only size they had left was S and 2X. I honestly would've taken the 2X but it would've looked ridiculous and the S is ok, I guess. It's not like I'm trying to hide my belly but when I was hired I hadn't told anyone outright that I was pregnant. Last week, three weeks into this job, these first graders started coming up to me and just rubbing my belly? That was a little weird. Then this 3rd grade girl, who isn't even part of the program, spotted me across the playground. She made eye contact with me and smiled great big. She didn't take her eyes off me, or the smile off her cute round face as she slowly stopped her swing, got off, walked towards me and asked "Are you going to have a Baaaby?" I told her yes. She then asked "Can I touch your belly?" I said no, but thanks for asking first. She was still talking to me when some of the other teachers walked up. So I told them too. Two of the ladies were like "oh, I was kind of wondering" and the other one was like "no way! I had no idea". Yesterday I saw our boss so I pulled her aside and told her because I didn't want her to hear it from one of the kids or someone else first. She also was like, "I had no idea!". Those polos can be deceiving I suppose, but wearing anything else, there is no more hiding this belly of mine, and I can't even recognize my own belly button anymore!
Sorry for three different pictures, we were trying to get the best one. (Please note the table setting in the background of the 3rd, the first time I've used my china since we've moved!)
I'm 25 weeks or 5.5 months pregnant. 3rd trimester starts December 2nd! Wow, so much to do!