Valentines & Baby Oakley

Another Valentines has come and gone already..

how time flies! 

This year was very low key for Adam and I.. like more

so than any other year I think.

We both worked through out the day and I was given

beautiful flowers at work.. Even though flowers

do die within a week I do love receiving them at work! 

He did good this year! 

My dad also surprised me this year and got me

chocolate covered strawberries, which were delicious! 

My mom dropped by my work that day and delivered them

and a nice big diet Pepsi.. so I definitely had a 

great Valentines Day.. 

After work Adam and I  just laid around our house and got Five Guys

to go and ate at home.. Like I said, very low key..

It's kind of the type of Valentines night you would probably

have if you had children, which we don't, we are just

that boring! :) 

Luckily, that weekend we went out and saw 

'Silver Linings Playbook' and had a nicer dinner.

I really liked that movie! Jennifer Lawrence won 

best actress for it! I love her! 

It was a great way to spend the day of love..

It's always amazing each year when I count how many

Valentines I've had now with Adam.. I think we are on like

7 or something.. I guess I should count better.

In other news.. I got to spend some more

time with my beautiful little 'niece' Oakley.. 

I am just completely in love.. It's totally

different I think when your really good friends have babies

and you spend more time with them. I haven't ever

felt so connected and so very much wanting a baby

as I did when I held her and saw Kris being

'mom'.. I think it'll be the same feelings once my

bff Chelsey gives birth to her girl.. I can't wait, her baby

is being a little more stubborn and won't come yet! 

But I am very much excited to meet and hold her too! 

Isn't she to die for? She's so beautiful and I am in love with

all her brown hair! She's just the sweetest! 

I can't wait to watch this little girl grow! 

Wedding of the Year..

My baby brother got married on February 8 this year! 

I could not have been more happy and proud of him! I'm so 

glad he found his sweet bride Linzi. . and that they

chose the beautiful temple to be married

for time and all eternity. 

I am so grateful that my husband and I could be

a part of their day and be in the temple with them.

I was so blessed that I got to see him get married..

and I won't forget his special day. 

They are the perfect couple and in fact in a way I am 

jealous of how well they mesh and compliment each other.

Even if my parents could have arranged his marriage

I don't think they could have chosen better. 

My brother got back from his mission last July and

him and Linzi were instantly inseparable. 

We all knew they would get married really soon

and wouldn't wait too long. 

They got engaged in October and started planning

for a February wedding.
The day was perfect! It was really cold outside, but

right as they came out of the temple that morning

it was sunny and they were able to get some 

gorgeous pictures. They looked so happy

and excited for their future! 

After the temple we had a really delicious luncheon

at the Opera House, put on by the same sweet

lady, Kelly, who catered my luncheon as well. 

Then we got ready for the reception since we had to be 

there early for pictures. 

They picked the Bell Tower for their reception and it 

turned out stunning! The decorations were so pretty

and the food was yummy! I don't have a lot of pictures

to put on here from the wedding day, since I was busy

mingling around, but when we do get their official pictures

back I'll post some of them! Here's just a few

that I tried to snap quickly! 

I loved our gray dresses we wore and my sister and I 

got these smoking hot high heels to wear that were

adorable, but were not 5+ hour shoes.. 

The groomsmen including my husband, Adam

helped decorate their car and did a really good

and nasty job! 

The bride and groom were sent off with awesome sparklers

and were on their way to paradise in Cancun. 

Happy Wedding Day! 

Best Friends & Baby Showers

I had the absolute pleasure of planning and attending

2 of my very best friend's baby showers these last few weeks.

Krystal is due with a baby girl on February 13th

and Chelsey is due with a baby girl on March 1st. 

I couldn't be happier for my two best friends! 

They are both going to make incredible mom's and

I'm so glad I got to be a part of their journey to motherhood!

I am hoping any day now that Kris is going to pop..

she is keeping me updated every so often and I have

a small feeling that baby girl isn't going to last until February 13th..

but we'll see :) 

Kris' shower was on Saturday, January 19th! 

I love LOVE planning showers/parties so I had told
Kris from the get go that I was going to plan her baby shower.

I was really happy to have one of her good friends, Kelsey

 be willing to help out as well.

I think it turned out great! She had a lot of good friends

there and I had planned a couple of fun games. 

Kelsey and her family did our delicious lunch 

and I took care of the decorations and games.

I was really sad I didn't get any pictures of the decorations

but I did pom poms hanging from the light fixture

and they were pink & zebra printed and then 

a fun little backdrop of balloons and streamers for the

present table. 

It was really fun to see Kris getting ready and excited for baby girl! 

I am really glad that she gave me the honor of

hosting her shower! I had so much fun! 

Here are a few pictures that were taken at the shower 

that day..

Kelsey's Mom is a hoot! 

About a week later I got to attend Chelsey's shower here

in St. George. Chelsey has been my life-long best friend..

and I wouldn't have missed her shower for anything.

Her mom and sister in laws hosted an awesome shower

in the morning with delicious crepes! 

Chelsey got a lot of great gifts and looked awesome pregnant..

of course!

 It was also wonderful to catch up with all of my girls.

I adore this group of gals and love our random get together's.

Yep, I'm the last one of the bunch to pop out a baby..and i'm

just going to soak up all the advice and encouragement I can

for now! 

She looks great pregnant right? 

Fun little fact about this picture: Once I put my hand on her cute

belly.. baby girl kicked me to say 'hello'! I was so happy she wanted

to say hi to her aunt amanda! 

  Me and the Belly's 

I can't wait to meet these two incredible baby girls! 

I unfortunately didn't get any pictures, 

but the same week as Kris' shower

was my soon-to-be sister in laws Bridal Shower, 

which me and Taylor through.

It was so much fun! I loved the decorations and games..they were

a blast and my mom did amazing with the food! 

We only played a few games, but everything turned out

pretty much how I wanted it too. I love

the details that go along with these parties

and I really enjoyed hosting them! 

2012 Holden Family Year in Review

As our 2012 year came to an end I wanted to go 

ahead and re-cap everything that happened and do our

'Holden Family Year in Review'..

2012 was filled with lots of great things! I always enjoy

looking back and re-living all the great memories I have

been able to enjoy! 

So here goes.. 2012 Year in Review..

Rang in the New Year again in Vegas with my family! 

Wonderful and fun trip! 

Enjoyed my parents annual Superbowl Party in February..

even though our favorite team wasn't in it..

Had a great Valentines day even though my hubby

had to work.. He decorated our house, got flowers and chocolates!

Enjoyed a March softball tournament and a good glimpse of Spring..

Nascar Weekend in Vegas with the family.. Filled with lots of

shopping, laughs and Nascar..

Bought a new truck...

Blue Angels in St. George.. Such a cool experience

Spent a weekend in Vegas for a Softball Tournament..

Fun weekend with my hubby..

Baby sister turned 16

And heaven gained a beautiful Angel.. a dear friend of mine

 passed away from cancer..

My mom and I headed to the annual Womens Conference in

Provo at BYU. It was spiritually fulfilling and so awesome

as usual.. I also loved the quality time with my mom...

Adam & I went and saw Brian Reagan at Tuachan.. he was hilarious!

Mom turned 50 this year.. Dad turned 49! 

Adam got a new job at the Blindman

Watched the cool Solar Eclipse..

Spent a beautiful weekend in Pine Valley for Memorial Day.. 

Celebrated my 25th Birthday with a pedicure with mom, lots of gifts, dinner at Pancho & 

Lefty's and yummy Cold Stone cake! 

And then celebrated Adam's 26th Birthday with both of

our families (his parents were in town)

Got new wood flooring done in our whole house and got
new carpet for our bedrooms! 


Celebrated Fathers Day and enjoyed swimming in our 110 degree
weather..

Found out one of my best friends, Krystal was pregnant and expecting
a baby in February 2013! 

Spent 4th of July at my parents new house eating, swimming
and watching Fireworks..

My baby brother came home from his mission in Tampa FL..
we were all thrilled!! 



Went to Oahu, Hawaii end of July.. 
pure bliss....








Found out my best friend, Chelsey was pregnant and expecting her
baby in March of 2013!

Labor Day weekend in Pine Valley.. and we had Trev back! 
Fun weekend of four-wheeling! 


Our good friend Keli'i came back to stay with us and brought 
his Australian girlfriend! Had a lot of fun weekends with them..
especially the ones in Pine Valley !



Went to a work conference in California and my mom tagged along!
It was so fun! 

Conference Weekend was spent in Pine Valley.. 
such beautiful weather..


Trevor proposed to Linzi in October on the Dixie Hill
and had all the family included..
it was beautiful! 


Fourth Wedding Anniversary was spent together
just relaxing and enjoying a nice meal out! 



Lost my incredible Grandpa Shifflet on October 29th ..
He was the sweetest, funniest, most witty man I've ever known.
He is missed every day.. I'm glad I got to make a trip out
to Pueblo, see my cousins and make great memories..
It was also good to show Adam Pueblo and have him
see that part of my life.. 

Last picture with Grandpa.. July 2012

Thanksgiving 2012 was spent in St. George.. my Aunt, cousins
and Grandma came over.. Delicious food and a fun weekend of 
shopping and hanging out! 


Photo - Bombing was the new thing this year. .



Got to be a part of Trevor & Linzi's Bridal Pictures.. 

Got my old blonde hair 'do back! 

Some new Christmas traditions and old ones this year..
Lots of fun times with the family during the holiday season.



Completely spoiled and blessed this Christmas! 
And rang in 2013 in viva Las Vegas with my loved ones..

Well that is my review of the year.. 
2012 you have been very, very good to me but I am excited for 2013..
It's amazing what you can fit into a year and all that you can
accomplish! I feel very blessed for all the treasured memories
I got to have in 2012..There were hard times for sure, but 
many wonderful times as well..

May 2013 bring more of the same :)