Ross Family

So its my birthday month!!! yay!!! Only 8 more days til I hit the big 23. I'm very much looking forward to celebrating with family and friends. And its a big gift month for me since its Valentine's day too! It will be our first Valentine's day together so it should be fun! We are continuing with his parent's tradition on doing sealings on Valentines day. What better way to celebrate love?! I made Valentine sugar cookies today and got to use my cute Valentine's sprinkles!

I also had a little extra time while Jordan took a nap so I made these cute tissue paper puff balls that I saw at a baby shower I went to and thought they were way cute! Pretty pleased with how my first attempt turned out! Thinking of using them for decoration at my baby shower or maybe even using them to decorate baby's room.

On Friday we got all dressed up and went to our stake Valentine's dinner and dance. We had pulled pork taco salad, and then brownies and ice cream. Yum! Then we danced for a while and got our picture taken! (Felt like prom) We both had a blast though and enjoyed getting all dressed up for each other. :)

Jordan is lots busier this semester. He is taking 9 credits online and is headed in the software engineering direction. Like father, like son. :) He is also working 30 hrs a week at Jiffy Lube and doing his best to keep up on maintenance at Old Farm. We are so blessed to have so many great opportunities.

I am keeping busy with school and work. In my spare time I have been working extra hard to be a great wife. I have recently started trying some new recipes and we have really enjoyed them. It makes me feel good to have a hot yummy meal waiting for Jordan when he gets home from a long day at work! Feel free to pass along any recipes you guys really like. This is a picture of the black bean and salsa chicken!

We have finally started making friends in our ward and that has been a lot of fun! We've had people over for games, movies, and dinner. We are sad we will have to leave all of our new friends in just 3 months but I'm sure we will find new ones. :) Plus we'll have all of our family and a new baby to play with!

Baby girl seems to be doing well. She is still measuring at the week she is so that's great. And the doctor said she's got a good heartbeat. Can't believe just 11 1/2 more weeks and she'll be here. I'm getting excited for my upcoming baby showers. I love a good party. :)

Well that's probably about it for the Ross family. Love you all!

Long Overdue Update

We have been busy, busy, busy! I was called as the first counselor in Relief Society about a month ago and have had a lot of assignments to fullfil there. I will be teaching the first lesson in February and am excited to teach in Relief Society for the very first time, which is to big, well-behaved people and not a class of third graders. I am student teaching with third graders. This is only my third out of seven weeks with this class and I am teaching for the entire day every day already! It is insain but I am making it!!

Bryce stays busy still taking chinese, working 40 hour weeks at Jiffy Lube, and another 20 hours at Old Farm in the office to cover for me and take care of maintenance. He is still the Elder's Quorum President so his plate is very full. Even with all this going on, he has managed to spend time doing what he loves. Here are some pictures of his latest project:

At this point Bryce and Jordan Woods (our friend) had completely taken apart and sanded down all the paint on Jordan's motorcycle. They had also spent hours filling in all the dings and dents in the gas tank and were now taping off to get ready for paint.

This was the paint booth they created. They have so much fun getting all dressed in the cute protective suits with their big ventilation masks.

This is a sample of some of their labor results.

I am so proud of Bryce and his many talents. We will keep trucking along until my next post. We hope all is well for everyone and send our love!

Here's to You Sisters

Hello sisters,

I have had a lot to reflect on the last couple of days, and it has mostly led me to feeling grateful for the way my life has turned out, and for the family that I have. I was recently writing to someone about my life, and wrote that "most all my good memories, I have shared with my sisters", and that couldn't be more true.

I have had such an amazing time growing up with you girls. With all of us so far away I think sometimes it is hard to remember living together, but I can honestly say I wouldn't trade all our crazy times for the world. Let's see:

-getting yelled at after keeping Ivan out all night.
-sneaking into the middle school when it was being built
-making Manda hate hundreds of movies because we watched them so often {Hercules, Little Nemo, Remember the Titans, Space Jam...and the list goes on!}
-playing out in the fields before they were taken over by houses
-sledding in Sugar House
-fighting over clothes
-staying up late at night in our closets so that mom and dad couldn't hear us
-having fun in the house when it was being built, including collecting all the building scraps and calling it "money" or other crazy things.
-making a hole in the closet wall so we could have a hideout
-handcuffing you in the shower...lol...sorry Marrie, you were the only one that got the hot water
-making music videos
-playing orphans, mermaids, witches, pioneers, boxcar children, barbies
-sliding down the dirt mounds on boxes
-driving to Virginia, and all our adventures there.
-playing at Papa Ron's water park, and playing pirates in the wooden ship

These of course are just a few of my favorites, because we have so so much more.

Even if we don't talk every day, or we want to kill each other at different stages in our lives, know that you will always be my best friends. I love you so much, and I am so grateful to be your older sister. I hope we never get to old to giggle together about the dumbest things, that we never forget our secret language {that will be even more useful when we don't want our kids to know what we are saying}, and that we never take each other for granted. You are all so special to me. I know I don't say any of this near enough, but we all know I am emotionally stunted and feel awkward with touchy feely things, but I just wanted you all to know that it never changes, whether I say it or not. I love you so much, and I am grateful for our many adventures together, and may we have just as many crazy ones to come :)

Love you,

Ruby

Findley Family Pictures

Our good friend Tonya took some family pictures for us because I had realized that we didn't have any from before Link got his first hair cut :) I just thought I would share a couple of them with you :)

Aren't my boys so studly? Matt finally let me dress him for church and he looked so good :) 

And there is a quick look at the fam :)

Ross Family

Last night Jordan made a Cambodian sweet and sour stir-fry for us and the Howell's. Sooooo yummy!!! I should let him cook more often. ;) Jordan served with Jason Howell in Cambodia. Him and his wife Jordan (easy name to remember) joined us last night for a night of fun. It was my first time meeting them and they made a great first impression.

Jordan showed Jason his mission scrapbook that I made him for Christmas and it was nice for him to get to share it with someone who can relate and has been to many of the places pictured and knows the people in the pictures. Though us girls didn't like being left out of conversation, I'm sure the boys loved getting to use their Khmer.

After dinner we went to the Aggie vs Nevada basketball game. It was way intense and fun to watch, even though we lost! Better luck next time! I'm sure Jordan would love to get out on that court and show them his skills. We are very excited for him to start churchball on Tuesday! Give him a little more time in his element.

After the game, we all went back to our apartment and we taught them how to play Canasta. They were super competitive and hilarious. We had such a blast. Can't remember the last time I laughed so hard, water was leaking from my eyes and maybe elsewhere.... :) ha

It is so nice having friends! Prayers have been answered. We are looking forward to game night and dessert at their apartment tonight!!!

School starts tomorrow! Wish us luck! Love you all!

An Update From Me

Hi! I'm about to head back up to school, and thought i'd take the opportunity to submit my first post. I get to start the new semester with human anatomy, elementary chemistry, and intro to music. Yes, this is only 11 credits, but i think i'll be able deal with that. Charley and I had a great time snowboarding with the Greens, and i can't wait to be able to go again with my friends from school. This three week break has been very great with reading, working out at the rec, and playing with the family. It will be nice to get a routine back as i live like a queen on campus. Thank you family for all of the support and examples. I love you guys!

Grandma and Grandpa

Yes, Grandma gave Grandpa a new toy for Christmas 2011. He is in heaven with his new toy! I haven't seen him glow like this in a very long time. He goes out and just starts it when the weather is so cold that it's too cold to ride. He got it inspected today so he is well on his way to getting it licensed and on the road legally.
It has been a great holiday. Thanksgiving with Ruby, Matt and Link. Then Christmas with all the rest of my girls. That is what makes me, Grandma, truely happy.....just being with my family!