Our Two Year Anniversary

Larry and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary on April 22nd. We've been through a lot together and I'm grateful for all the support we've had from friends, family, and above all, our Heavenly Father. We decided to take some much needed time off to relax together.

First we had a short trip to Park City. We stayed at the Marriott where we went for our one day honeymoon. It brought back memories of our wedding time because the room looked the same. When I say "room" I should say "house." It was bigger than our condo! Anyway, it was nice to stay there but I think we regretted spending lots of $$$ on dinner. Oh and the hotel. But I like it there so I was fine with that :D I just like spending time with Larry so I was happy. We don't have cable at home so we got a bit caught up watching TV. We watched like three hours of animal planet. Some show called "fatal attractions" about people who keep wild animals as pets...and then their "pets" attack them. It made me sad to see animals kept in those circumstances. They're wild animals! Anyway, enough of my rant on that. Oh and I know, very romantic ;)

This is a cupcake :)

Me and Larry enjoying our stay in Park City


We came home for a day and prepared for our camping trip. Then on our anniversary day we headed to Southern Utah. We pitched our tent at the Snow Canyon campgrounds. It was really pretty and the weather was nice after the first day. We enjoyed cooking meals on the fire and sleeping in our cocoon sleeping bags. Those things are pretty comfy. We played a monopoly card game and other games; that was fun. It reminded me of the days when we were dating. We went bike riding and hiked a lot (which helped me realize I'm not in very good shape anymore). It was fun and we really enjoyed being together with all of life's stresses and worries put behind us.


Yes...that is a marshmallow fork stuck to me.






Out final day we made a little visit to my sister Emily and her family for a few minutes. Then it was off to Zion National Park. We were lucky because it was the "national parks are free week." We drove around and enjoyed the tunnels the most. Ha. I'm scared of heights so I was ever so slightly nervous while driving up the canyons. Larry had fun teasing me by trying to scare me here an there. Fortunately he is safe driver so I was fine. Before we left Zion, we took a short hike to see the weeping wall or something. It was all very pretty. Then, Saturday night, we headed home. Sunday my sister Heidi gave her homecoming talk...she's been home for two months so I'm sure she's glad they finally had her do it! K, there is our little update :)

Our camera died so I didn't take pictures of Zion. But here are some more pictures from the rest of our trip.(there are a couple more on facebook too) Larry looks ever so handsome, but me...well, I was camping without my blow dryer and such...so you know :( Anyway, we really enjoyed our trip. I feel so much love for Larry and I couldn't be more grateful to have him as my eternal companion. Here's to hoping for an especially great year together and many more to come!

This is the rock wall where pioneers wrote their names with grease in the 1800s. I seriously started climbing up there but Larry informed me that I would probably die so I took his advice and well, didn't climb it ;)

Larry (being inspired by the Pioneers) proceeded to deface his very own rock wall (other people had done it too...which doesn't make it right, but just sayin!)


He was very proud of himself...

We are now the "Bal5meier" family.

I just think Larry is the most handsome guy I ever did see...I love that hubs of mine.



My diamond in the rough...I had Aladdin songs stuck in my head after doing that.

Yay for sand dunes! I know the pic is blurry...



Larry really liked the old volcanos and lava rocks. Crazy stuff.

What Can I Say?

So...I'm in the blogging mood. I don't do it enough...I'm pretty sure because I usually don't care to share whatever I'm up to or how I'm doing. But it's a nice Sunday evening so why not write a bit? I don't have any pictures to glam up this post though. That's my new goal...we need pictures! We have very few pictures of us together since we got married. I chalked it up to having braces...But on March 10th I got them off! WoohoO!! Now Larry can't call me train tracks...it's amusing watching him pause to think of some new nickname to give me. Hehe. Sucker.

Anyway, I'm loving this Spring weather. We're going camping in a month for our anniversary...I know it doesn't sound luxurious but we're so excited! I love nature and Larry so put the two together and I'm one happy girl! We'll take pics and post a lovely story about our adventures (in Southern Utah) after it happens.

A couple other updates...on January 25th we got a new niece, Aurora Grace Arnold ("Rori"). We haven't met her yet but she's really cute! Also, my older sister Emily...wait a second, I don't know why I bother saying "older" I mean I AM the youngest. Hehe. Anyway my sister Emily announced on Valentine ’s Day that she and Brett are having another baby. Their youngest is almost four so it's been a while. We're happy for them. They just found out they're having a GIRL so that ends the streak of boys on my side of the family.

I'm still doing my daycare biz and that's going well. Our store is going just fine too. We have some new ideas that we're excited about and we feel that we'll have success with. More to come on that later.

Lastly, I just wanted to mention, for anyone who was interested to know, that we didn't get the results of what caused our last miscarriage as was anticipated. Usually they’re “unexplained” but still! For those who don't know, I was in the Eager Study, on my last month in the study, when we finally had another baby on the way (18 months after we lost the first.) I was happy to be staying in the study but had a feeling it wouldn't work out again. Yeah I hate when I have feelings of stuff I so don't want to hear.

Well, I was given a container in case I had another miscarriage. Sorry if that's too much information...I took it with me to the hospital (I was having problems obviously) and miscarried there. We made it very clear to the hospital staff over and over again that we needed the "sample" :( kept in the fridge and without any thing added to it. The Eager Study was going to perform a genetic test (costs about $4,000) free of cost to us.

Well...I waited weeks and weeks for the results. Finally I found out that the nurse at the hospital didn't follow the written and verbal instructions we gave. They added formalin to the specimen which destroyed it. Thus, we didn't get the answers we really needed. Infertility is really expensive and frustrating! My doctor recommended testing that cost an additional $3000 but we had to decline and take other routes with lower costs. I always feel weird talking about this very personal family matter on the blog but I feel like sharing for some reason…for those who care to know.

I have to admit, it's hard being in "the baby business" when I do want one myself and don't know when that will happen. I'm still a youngin’ but that's what tends to scare me. Most 21 year olds don't have these types of problems so it's a matter of concern. I got a new doctor who is helpful and concerned too so that helps! I know that we'll have a baby when we're ready to be fit parents...or something like that.

I really do trust in the Lord's wisdom and timing. I've had plenty of experiences along the road of life this past couple years to realize that there's wisdom in why things have happened how they have. I never even thought I'd be married at this point in my life so I feel blessed to have the opportunity to become a mom at a young age. I think Larry worries about my desire to have a baby when I can just have him instead ;) Just kidding Larry. But I think most women naturally desire a baby of their own when they see cute babies being born left and right.

Sometimes I feel really discouraged and "wo is me." This morning I was being a baby myself and Larry was helpful to remind me that Heavenly Father really does know more than I do. Then at church everything pointed to how God's wisdom is perfect and we can find good in everything that happens to us.

Life has been tough in the Balsmeier family for many reasons but that's only made me realize how much Heavenly Father really does know and love us. And I find myself enjoying (did I just say that?) the challenges that life brings...not sure "enjoying" is the right word. What I mean is, I'm seeing the "tender mercies of the Lord" in my life more and more. I'm literally seeing the spiritual growth in me and then I realize...oh yeah...He does know what He's doing! We all have challenges that go unseen to others but never to our Heavenly Father. Don't ever forget it! Wow, apparently I just wrote in my journal and made it public to the world. Oops. I just hope it helps someone somehow.

2009 Happenings...

Um...I don't feel like being creative or even writing in complete sentences. Here are some noteworthy happenings of 2009. It was a difficult year but it had its blessings and we made progress in our lives.

Remodeled our condo (new carpet and paint)
Completed another semester at LDSBC. Took the rest of the year off.
New nephew Vaughn Jaten born Feb 12.
New niece Kailyn Bidwell born Feb 18.
Remembered our baby's due date Feb 23.
Got laid off from my job.
Taught Relief Society for the year.
Went to Kansas for Jordan & Blake's wedding.
Celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary.
Larry gave me two baby guinea pigs for our anniversary.
Became a 21 year old.
Took our first vacation together-had fun in San Diego.
My grandma passed away August 27.
After much unemployment, started my own daycare.
Larry sold his beloved car.
Started our own business, MegBeeBaby.com.
New nephew Ethan Balsmeier born Sept 23.
Larry got a promotion and raise.
After a long wait, got pregnant again.
Had another miscarriage.
Larry turned 26.
Went to Kansas for Christmas.
Welcomed in 2010. We hope it's a very good year with many blessings.

You Know You Don't Get Out Much When...

(Prepare yourself for a nice long list detailing my life)

•The highlight of your day is the UPS man coming (no Larry, not because I like their brown outfits. I love getting packages!)

•You spend an hour editing photos...because you can.
Before...

After...

And yes, when my custom made wet bags arrived I was very happy. You would be happy to get packages too you know. I can arrange that if you'd like to buy something ;)

•99% of your communication is with an animal or baby.

•You give your dog a pacifier...because you think it's funny and looks cute.


•You check facebook compulsively just because that's what you type as a reflex when you get online...all 987 times each day. Because you're home and you can do that.

•You can't remember the last time you left the house. (Larry sold his car and he usually has mine...can't go anywhere)

•You scavenge for food and succumb to eating stale chips...because you need groceries but can't get them.

•You spend your leisure time cloth diapering a stuffed bunny. If you know my business you'll understand...maybe.

•You take the time to prepare a picture of the bunny for a blog post.


•You have pictures of bunnies in diapers but none of you and your spouse going out on dates and such...not even of you and your spouse just sitting there.

•You think the trip to the grocery store is a date.

•You think it's August when it's December. The snow and cold helped me figure that one out. But again, I don't get out much to be aware of it.

•You miss school.

•You miss having a "real" job. I do like what I do but still...

•You tell your spouse about your day and all you really mention is something about diapers and the UPS guy coming.

•You start talking about socially unacceptable things when you actually come in contact with people...like how I remember vets throwing...um surgically removed parts...at vet techs.

•You just told more people about that...

•The most adventurous thing you did was in a dream...and you were surprised that Chuck Norris didn't show up this time.

•You have time to write blog posts like this.

Okay, I'm done for now ;) I bet I have lots more but I can't think anymore. After all, I spend most of my day not thinking much.

It's funny that I used to be gone 12 hours a day or so and my time at home was spent doing homework. I used to think "If I had time I would do this and that and use it so well." Uh...don't think so. I'm mad at myself for wasting SO much time. It's ridiculous.

Oh yeah...We Have a Blog

It's been a looong time since I posted. Here's a brief update of what we've been up to. Larry got a promotion and raise. I've been doing my daycare for a few months now. And we started a business. Check out megbeebaby.com if you haven't already. Okay, so it's not that exciting to see the coming soon page. It will go live December 1st hopefully. I got my business license and ordered my inventory. I'm really excited about it. I'm going to stop blogging now because we are both really sick and need to get better.