A Wedding, Easter and Changes, Changes, Changes

We are still here!  (And sorry in advance for the shoddy cell phone pics.)

I swear I say this every time I update the blog, but MAN.  We have been insanely busy the last several weeks.  I seriously do not remember the last time we had a night at home, just the three of us with no where to go and nothing to do. 

Clay's little brother Collin got married on the 12th.  We spent a few nights up in Syracuse with the fam to help get ready for the big day.  It was a really busy weekend, and I think Ellie is just barely getting back to normal as far as her sleep schedule goes, but the wedding itself was beautiful.  We are really excited to have Miranda join the family - we think she's pretty neat.  Especially Ellie.  I don't know what it is about Miranda, but Ellie LOVES her.  It's adorable.  

Might be my new favorite picture of all time.  I love pictures of Ellie and her daddy.  They melt me.  

Baby Elliot. 

My sister-in-laws, Bekah and Cia, and E, right before the ceremony.  

Easter weekend came and went.  On Saturday night after work, we headed over to my Aunt Janae's house for a barbecue and an Easter egg hunt for the kids.  Ellie would pick the eggs up, but didn't understand the concept of sticking them in her basket.  So consequently, she didn't end up with very many eggs.  But she loved being with the other kids and we had a really good time catching up with everyone.  (Plus, my Uncle Adam does a mean barbecue.  Yum.)  I don't have any pictures of this.  I know, I know.  It was Ellie's first Easter egg hunt.  My camera battery was dead, and with all we've had going on I didn't think to charge it.  I don't even think we took a picture with the cell phone cameras. 

The next day (Easter Sunday), I was awoken with a phone call from work asking where I was.  Apparently I had agreed to work from 6 am to noon, but for whatever reason didn't write the shift down in my planner.  Soooo... we woke Ellie up, she opened her Easter basket on our bed while I put makeup on, and I ended up at work from about 930 am to 2 pm.  Clay dressed Ellie in her Easter dress (which just so happened to be the same dress she wore to her Uncle Collin's wedding, haha), and off to church they went.  Later that night, we met up and went to my mom's house for Easter dinner and got to catch up with Grandma Tina, who was here visiting from Colorado.  I then attempted to take Ellie out to my mom's back yard and take some cute pictures of her in her Easter dress, but my step dad had fertilized the yard, so we decided to go to the park to take some pictures.  Ellie wasn't having it.  She was mad.  All in all, Ellie's first Easter was a success.  I can't wait until she gets a little bit older and we can start teaching her the meaning behind these holidays. 

E and her Easter basket.  

Happy Easter!

Taking her irresponsible mother to work!!

There are going to be some huge changes coming up in our lives.  And I'm excited and terrified and loving it and hating it all at the same time. 

First, Clay was offered a position with Sandy City PD.  We are beyond excited for this move and he is so happy to finally start his career.

Second, I received a promotion of sorts at work, and will be moving within the same company in a different position to a different center...  City Creek Shopping Center in Salt Lake.  This promotion is requiring me to go full time, and is a ton of responsibility.  I'm not terribly excited about going back to work full time.  I'm not excited about being away from Ellie at all, but unfortunately it's what's required at this point in our life right now.  The only reason I've been able to stay home with her as much as I have is because my amazing husband worked so much overtime with the Department of Corrections.  Those overtime opportunities aren't going to be available with his new job, so back to work I go.  However, the position itself I'm excited for.  I think it will be good for me.  And in time, I know this will benefit the whole family.

It's worked out kind of nice - the new job for me kind of appeared at the same time the new job for Clay did.  Almost like it was meant to be.  My step mom will have Ellie during the summer while I start work and Clay goes through the Academy.  And starting in the fall we've found someone wonderful to watch Ellie three days a week (who has a little girl just older than E) when we work, and I'm actually really, really happy about that. Happy that I can trust who I'm leaving her with, and happy that it's only three days a week I have to do it.  Plus - Ellie will get some much needed socialization time.  It's going to be an adjustment for us all - but I think the pros outweigh the cons, and that's what I have to remember.  We have really been blessed lately, and I'm grateful.  

If I'm MIA for awhile..... that's why.  I'll be balancing two jobs for the next two weeks, while Clay gets ready to change jobs entirely.  I'm hoping the next time I post will be when E is eleven months old.  The last month before she is one.  I might cry.