Last Little While

I know a lot of people have been waiting for an update on what has been going on in our lives lately. We found out we are pregnant recently and that has been the most exciting news but there have been other exciting things going on as well!

In March we celebrated my big brothers birthday! Tyson and I thought of a really funny joke. Nikki had told us Bryan was looking for rock climbing equipment and she had sent me pictures of the kinds he wanted so I could have an idea of the right stuff to buy. So Tyson and I bought the good stuff, but we also bought some dinky little key chains too. We wrapped them separately and hid the real gift. We gave him the fake gift first.

Bryan is such a good sport. Immediately I could see on his face, "Uh this is the wrong thing." but we just kept smiling. When my mom asked what it was he said "rock climbing equipment" smiled and told us thanks. He didn't want to hurt our feelings and tell us we were wrong.

Well I am not a good liar so I pulled out the real gift and gave it to him. We could see the relief on his, and Nikki's, face. It was a pretty funny joke!

We went to Idaho a few weeks ago to see Tyson's little brother, Nathaniel, give his missionary address before he leaves on his mission. Needless to say I forgot to take fun pictures and this was the only one I took all weekend!

We did have a great time with family. We were only up there for about 24 hours but it was really awesome to be surrounded by so many family members! Congrats Nathaniel!

Easter came and it was a really nice one. We got to spend the afternoon with the Crown side of our family and we decided to color eggs.

Little Lucas had fun with the dye, and after a while Bryan warmed up to it too.

Tyson made a really gross egg.

And some pretty ones too.

We had an Easter Egg Hunt at the Crown home! I was really excited to go watch my little nephew, Lucas, run around and get the eggs. Then my mom let me know I got to be a part of the hunt as well! She had already gotten sweet little surprises for the baby!

The boys hid the eggs.

The girls, and Lucas, searched high and low.

And I think we got them all.... if not there will be rotting eggs in my parents yard!

And the latest happenings...... I GRADUATED! I now have my Bachelors of Science in the field of Communications with an emphasis in Speech Communication! Yipee!

Tyson has been so great to support me. Through all the money saving so we wouldn't have to use loans. Through all the hours I spend away from him because I had to study. Through putting off his own school so I could finish without debt and through all the tears I shed because I cry under stress. He has been my rock. He has always reminded me that I can do this and that I am smart. Even when I fail an exam or two. I love him and I am so glad to have him!

My parents have been my other major support system through my college days. They were there right from the start. Through moving out, finding jobs, tears again and many many MANY crazy roommate stories. They have always answered when I call needing a compliment because I may feel down. They have always been there to cheer me on when I do well. I am so lucky to have the parents I have. They have taught me so much and they are a major reason I am who I am today!

I am very excited to be graduated and on my way. I don't know what lies in store next except baby is coming. I should probably start learning how to raise kids....

Drumroll Please........

My posts are usually an update on what we have been up to in the last month. This time I am not so keen on doing that. Don't get me wrong, you will be updated on our month eventually but I feel as if there are more pressing matters to address. Well, one pressing matter.

We are pregnant! YAY! We are almost 10 weeks along and are very excited.

Hope y'all are excited to meet our little baby! We know we are!

Love in 2011

I know it has been a while since I last updated the blog. Heres the thing, I have been busy. Not fake busy, but busier than I have been in a very long time. Since I am feeling under the weather today I shall blog.....

It has been a busy last few months. Tyson has been working 60 hours a week. I have been working 50 hours a week and still doing school full time. I am taking one of the hardest classes I have ever taken (second only to math 1050) and am struggling through it. I am working on this service project for the refugees of Sudan. We are also trying to keep our house and our brains together. Needless to say we are both a little frazzled here at the Ellis home.

Our friends and family have been really great to us. My mom and dad are saints. Every time I get this busy I get a little emotional. I think I have called my mom and dad about 20 times over the last few weeks just bawling about something stupid that doesn't really matter. They just tell me how great I am and things are better. They know how to take care of me! Tyson's sister Adrianne, who lives down the street from us, has been kind enough to cook me dinner after a long day. It is so nice to have her down the street and have her welcome me even when Tyson is not with ame! Our friends have been great as well. We had the chance to have dinner with my bestest friend Danny and her husband and their little girl Maylie TWICE in one week! They have been great to remind us that we might be working hard, but it will be worth it in the end and that we should relax when we can! All in all, Tyson and I have a great support system!

Okay, now just for a personal plug. My socks for Sudan drive is going great! My parents donated about a MILLION pairs of socks! Okay, not that much but a lot. And we have raised about $110 so far! Things are going well!

In February we celebrated Valentines Day. Tyson and I worked a 12 hour shift that day and were pretty pooped! But not too pooped to exchange gifts!

Tyson surprised me with flowers! I didn't think he would get me flowers as he was in the office all day, and since I work with him I knew when he took lunch and everything. Anyway, I love them and they are still alive! He knew how I hate when the flowers just die and he got me a little potted plant so it could live!

I know it sounds boring, but I got Tyson a headset for his XBox games. Tyson plays games with his friends online and without a headset he can't talk with them. I like it better when he can talk to them because then it is more a social game. So, I got him a few headsets so he can play with his friends.

Tyson also got me a HUGE gummy bear! This thing is 5lbs! It is the equivalent to about 1500 normal gummies. Yeah, we still have most if it.

We ordered a heart shaped pizza because I did not want to cook and by the time we got home from work it was too late to go out to a nice dinner to celebrate.

We did go to dinner a few nights before, because we knew we would not be able to go out on the actual day.

A few weeks of overtime went by and we were really getting pooped. I was falling behind in school but was trying my hardest. We ended up coming up with a schedule so we could get everything done. I mean, not even our laundry was getting done! I was feeling really anxious and Tyson told me to go out with my girlfriends one Saturday. Me and the girls went to a movie and hung out for a bit. I called Tyson on the way home and he said he had been just laying around relaxing after a long week (very understandable). When I got home..... drumroll please...... he had cleaned the whole house! He vacuumed, he did the dishes, he did ALL the laundry! I was amazed! What a great husband I have!

Speaking of having a great husband. He got promoted! Tyson is now a manager. Between him and one other guy they manage a little over 50 people. Yes, I am included in that. My husband is now my manager. It has been okay so far, but we will see how it goes. Mostly I am just very proud of him and glad the company can see how hard he works.

Well we celebrated our one year anniversary! Yesterday actually.... We didn't do anything big like a lot of people do. But we did have an adventure. We started by going to IKEA.

mmmm, love the meatballs there!

We ate there and then shopped for some stuff for the house. We gave ourselves a limit and decided some of these things count as anniversary gifts.

Tyson picked out the lamps!

Tyson surprised me once again, he got me the box set of the Toy Story movies! We had been looking everywhere to get these all in one set and he found this cute set that comes in a toybox!

We ended our day of adventure by going out to dinner. We went to Iggys. It was awesome because we not only got to see part of the BYU game (sorry, they lost) but we also got to see part of the Jazz game (they also didn't do well). We had a lot of fun!

Tyson and I are going to Las Vegas in May to celebrate my graduating. We are super excited! For our anniversary gift I gave Tyson tickets to Circ Du Soleil in Vegas! He was very excited.

And that sums it up...... More updates to come....

And Tyson, himself, carved the roast beast.

Socks For Sudan

Just a quick note to those who happen to read our blog. I am running a fundraiser for a school project. It is to get new socks for refugees of Sudan. We have many refugees living here in Utah. They have come from places with much violence and sadness. Here in Utah we are helping them to find work and to enter into our society. We are teaching them English and giving them skills many would not have had before. 

The only problem is that these refugees need socks. They have food, they have places to live, but they are in great need of socks for their feet. There is a need for womens socks, mens socks and even childrens socks.

If you would like to help me out with this I would really appreciate it! We need new pairs of socks (still in packaging). The drive will run through the end of March!

For more information, we are putting together a site. You can find it at www.socksforsudan.com We are still putting it together but all the functions should be there! You can purchase socks, or even donate money and we will buy the socks.

Thanks, and much love!

Elder Crown

Kyle entered the MTC on January 5th 2011. He was excited and didn't even look back as he walked away from my parents and into the doors of the MTC. He is going to be a great missionary and we are all missing him already! But proud of him all the same.

Before Kyle went into the MTC he was set apart. It was a special moment for the family to be together and hear this special blessing. Tyson was unable to make it because he had to work, but don't worry, I told him all about it when I got home! Kyle bore his testimony to all of us. For those of you who have not heard the testimony of my little brother you should know, he has one of the most humble and genuine testimonies around. He knows his purpose and he knows that he is meant to serve the Lord in Mexico at this time.

We went out to ice cream after his setting apart because that felt like a good way to celebrate. Gotta love going to Leatherbys! (I may not have spelled that right, but I love the place still the same). No matter how much the kids in my family grow up or what stage of life we are in I am sure we are always going to have fun. I love my brothers, and they are just like me. I am one lucky gal to have the family I have!

The day Kyle went into the MTC we all went to lunch together. Even though Kyle didn't have to report until almost 1:00, the family went out to lunch at 10:30 so Tyson and I could make it to work on time! We went to Brick Oven.

Kyle was not nervous. He was just excited as we ate! He ate without any tummy aches and he wasn't talking nervously or jittery. That is Kyle though, never seems to be nervous, just ready for his next adventure. I however, I don't know if I caught a bug or was just going to miss my brother but I had a belly ache. Oh well, at least the Missionary Man felt calm!

Kyle has loved his first few weeks in the MTC. The only thing he did not like his first week was that nobody wrote him. Little did he know, we did not have his mailbox # and we were waiting for him to write us! Oh well, we have the information now and can write him all we want.

If you would like to write Kyle I am sure he would appreciate it! His current address is below, that will be his address until the beginning of March. If you would like updates I would be happy to send those out! Just send me an email! I will also be updating Kyles address on his Facebook account as the time goes by.

Kyle is a great man and will do great things for the people of Mexico City. We are all very happy for him and he is a happy boy as well! WE LOVE YOU KYLE! (Not that he can read this......)

Elder Kyle Landon Crown

Mtc Mailbox  # 214.

MEX-MEXE 0307

2005 N. 900 E.

Provo, Ut 84604-1793.

Decembrrrrrr

It has been a cold, yet fun, month for us. We have had a lot going on this holiday season and I am glad to finally write up a post about everything!

Usually each year I throw a Hannukah party. This year I was not able to. We were moving and there was just nowhere to throw a party! I was able to keep the spirit alive by baking some delicious Hannukah treats. Okay, I might not remember what they were called but they were delish!

We got to have three different Christmas celebrations this year! Tyson and I had one for just the two of us.

We had fun opening the presents, but I won't bore you with that part! The bows were a lot of fun too.

We then had a Christmas celebration at the Crown home. I am very sad to report that I did not bring my camera that day! We all spent the night and we had Christmas morning together (even though it was the week before.)

I then spent all day and all night baking and cooking with my mom and dad. (Tyson helped too) It was really nice to be in the kitchen with my family cooking up all sorts of sweets! They didn't last long though! Kyle had his farewell the next day and those sweets were pretty popular items!

Kyle did great with his farewell talk, we are all very proud of him and his decision to serve the Lord. But I will have more on that later!

Tyson and I were able to travel up to Idaho for our Christmas break. It was really nice to have a road trip with my hubbie! The fog was very intense though! The thickest I had ever seen. This picture does not do it justice.

The break was filled with puzzles, DELICIOUS food and lots of family time. All in the holiday spirit. There were nieces and nephews to play with and we all had a lot of fun together.

Had to sit on the stairs before we could see what Santa brought!

This little man is going to be a rockstar!

Even Stan got into it!

We did get to go to the farm and see the animals. I love the little babies!

I love the rooster too.

Then it was time to celebrate Tyson's birthday! I was able to sneak to our new house before we had moved in and I decorated as a surprise. It was really fun to surprise him! He seemed to enjoy it.

For his birthday we went to dinner, and a movie. We stopped at an arcade to unleash the inner child within.

My family came to our house to celebrate Tyson's birthday and have a last family dinner before Kyle went on his mission. They bought Tyson a really great gift that he loves, and I have already had him put it to work! Thanks Crown family!

Oh yeah... WE MOVED IN!!!! We did the move on Tyson's birthday. It was cold and there was a little bit of ice on the ground but we survived. Everyone, and everything, was safe in the journey. I don't have the house all set up yet so I don't have a ton of pictures to show, but they will come soon!

The Month of Novembeard

I know, it has been a long time since I have been on to post about our life and our little family. The truth is, WE ARE BUYING A HOUSE! So we have been spending all our free time packing and signing papers and trying to plan moving in. On top of that I still had school and work full time and Tyson was working double hard at our job. But alas, finals are over.... We haven't moved in yet, but I do feel it is time to write a new blog post.

Keeping with what seems to be a trend on our blog I am going to just talk about the wonderful events of November. One day I will have more time and will post more often, for now it is monthly (if I can even get that in).

November was a fun month. Many times it was really cold. Luckily for Tyson he decided to grow a beard the whole month, so he was not very cold. He did not shave from the beginning of November to the beginning of December. Thus the name, Novembeard. I was not a huge fan of this facial hair, and I believe the picture will show you why.

Tyson and I were able to go to a BYU football game with my good friend Laura. She was kind enough to invite us and we had a wonderful time! It was Tyson's first BYU football game in the stadium so it was a pretty big event. He was excited and luckily they won!

It was then time to celebrate a certain nephews 2nd birthday! Lucas turned two this November! That cute little boy sure is loved by the family! We had a lot of fun at his party.

Plus Nikki made an awesome birthday cake! I mean look at those skills!

We did get to see HARRY POTTER! My mom was able to get us tickets to the Jet Blue screening the day before it opened! This little troupe of Harry Potter fans was very excited! My whole family was able to go, along with a few of our friends, Will and Heather! It was a great movie and if you have not seen it then you need to.

Then of course we had Thanksgiving. This year we celebrated with my family. We stayed the weekend up there and had a lot of fun! I didn't get any cute pictures of everyone around the table, but here is the cute table with our name tags on it!

My parents have been working on a remodel in their home. Thanksgiving weekend was a good time for the boys to get working and knock out some walls!

I think they work together pretty darn well!

That sums up the month of November. December has been really busy already, but you will  have an update on that later!