Mushy Love Post

Not only is Jarvis out of town so I'm missing him, but I heard some news about a friend that makes me cherish him and our marriage even more. When my parents divorced I remember thinking "well they were in love once... but it didn't last. How do you make love last in a marriage?" I spent the next 10 years or so really trying to figure it out. Marriage, in general, is important to me, but my marria...ge to this guy is the thing I cherish most in this whole world. I'm so glad I married a guy who values our relationship the same as I do. Looking back on all these pictures I'm reminded that I truly married my best friend and there isn't anyone else in this world I'd rather have by my side. He's the one that makes me laugh, gives me advice, keeps me company, daydreams with me, and makes me feel loved. My greatest blessing is him and I'm forever grateful for that.

BBQ Pork Ribs

I promised the recipe to our favorite freezer meal dinner and here it is:

What I Used:

• A package of pork ribs from Costco
• Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce (I bought the 2 bottle pack from Costco)
• One large red onion

I cut the pork ribs into large cubes, trimmed the fat off of them, and divided the pieces between four gallon size freezer bags. I quartered the red onion then cut each quarter into large pieces and put them into the bags. Then I poured one bottle of BBQ sauce between the four bags. That's it!! The prep work is super easy and the finished product is SO worth it. *drooling*

Cook Time:

• Cook on high in a crock pot for 2-3 hours.

How To Serve It:

• For a sweeter dinner, serve with pineapple over rice. We love eating this way and it's super easy!
• For a more savory dinner, serve with more BBQ sauce, potatoes, and veggies. I spread the meat out on a foil lined pan, brush the meat with more BBQ sauce, and broil in the oven for 10 or so minutes.

Both of these meals are in our top 10 dinners so having a bunch of these meals on hand in the freezer not only makes dinner time super easy, but makes our tummies happy, too.

Welcome 2017!

It's a brand new year and I'm excited to share our highlights from 2016.

2016 was a great year. Jarvis and I signed another year lease at our apartment in downtown Ogden (win for me!), we bought our first pig (win for Jarv!), and Luke has turned walking into running, and babbling into rambling sentences that we're starting to understand. (That's a win for all of us!)

I finished my first year at America First Credit Union, trying out a few departments before finding a branch I LOVE in Kaysville. The commute isn't bad (only about another 10 minutes from home) and it's been an amazing move so far. Yay for having a job I love! I also finished out the year teaching the Book of Mormon in our ward's gospel doctrine class and enjoyed that more than I can say. I love the Book of Mormon and it was the greatest team-teaching it in a family ward. (Best calling ever!) I also made a big switch from It Works to Rodan+Fields which has already been a huge blessing to our family. I have learned so much already about skin care and enjoy sharing my passion and success with others. Overall, I had an amazing year. I was stretched and challenged more than ever before which lead to a lot of growth and self-improvement that I hope to carry right on into 2017. I'm a list maker and already have many resolutions that I'm excited to accomplish.

Jarvis is still at Weber High School, teaching Ag and loving life. His adventures in the Ag world have brought us a lot of fun and a lot of friends. In February, we had the opportunity to go back to Kansas City, MO with the Weber County Young Farmers & Ranchers for the National YFNR Convention. We made a lot of great friends and enjoyed the time together (without Luke) over my birthday and Valentine's Day. He competed in the Discussion Meet again at the Utah State Farm Bureau Convention and took 2nd, which was fine with us since the winner got an all expense paid trip to the National Farm Bureau Convention in... Arizona!! (We're holding out for next year's National Convention in Nashville. *wink wink*) Jarvis ALSO took his state champ veterinary science team back to Indianapolis for their national competition. He served in our ward's young mens program tackling all of the challenges that a ward with one young man brings. His year wasn't challenging enough, though, I guess, because he's made a goal to run a marathon. So along everything else he's started running. (It's got to be one of my favorite things to watch my man excel at everything he does.)

Luke has had the busiest and most productive year out of us all. He went from crawling to walking to running, from babbling to speaking to conversing. We have loved getting to know him better and I think he's enjoyed showing his personality to us even more. He loves to be silly and laugh and if you come and visit, be prepared for him to show off how funny he is for the first 5-10 minutes. He'll then show you his room and then of course ALL of his trains! He spends hours lining them up all over the house. He's already shown us he's very mechanical, methodical, and interested in how things work together. If he grows up to be some sort of engineer I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. He goes to daycare at our friend, Katie's, and has multiple girlfriends that he loves to flirt with. (Oh boy!!) He sits on the potty a few times a week and we plan on sending him off to Grandma Marti's this summer to learn how to potty like a big boy!! Isn't it the best watching kids grow up and become bigger little people?! It's my new favorite thing.

Busiest Weekend Ever

We were triple booked Friday night and triple booked on Saturday. Somehow we managed to do 4 of the 6 activities this weekend AND make it home in one piece. (Barely!)

Friday night we drove down to Salt Lake to meet Jarvis' parents and Isaac for the Jazz game against the Mavericks. (Thank you Isaac for the tickets and the invitation!!) It was my very first time watching a Jazz game (I'm not much of a basketball fan) and it was actually a lot of fun. Jori and Jason drove up with Jarv's parents and were sweet enough to take Luke off our hands so we could enjoy the late game. Luke got to sleep over at Auntie Jori's and Uncle Jason's and THEY got some practice with a toddler. (I hope it comes in handy soon.) The game ended up being a really good game. The Jazz won by 3 with a 3-pointer buzzer shot. I don't know how much crazier it could have gotten!!

Family pic after the game

Then on Saturday...

We had the Pace Family Christmas Party, Wiscombe Family Tubing @ Solider Hollow and then the Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork with Jarvis' family. It was a busy, busy day driving from one party to the next to the next, but it was full of fun, family, and food. Win-win-win.

I'm bummed I didn't get any pictures at the Pace Christmas Party and we had to leave early to make it up to Solider Hollow on time, but I heard Grandma Pace learned how to play the piano and performed "Silent Night" for everyone. What a woman!! She's 82 years old and her message to everyone there was "you're never too old to learn something new." That lady will leave an incredible legacy behind and I'm lucky to have married into a family with such a bad ass grandma. (Excuse my language.)

For the last three years, my mother in law's family (the Wiscombe side) has gone tubing at Soldier Hollow the week or so before Christmas. It's a new tradition we all love and we all do our best to be there. Luke is still too young to ride down the hill and I'm just a scaredy cat *wink* so we play in the snow while Jarvis rides down the hill. It's one of our favorite family activities every year.

Then last night after tubing we all made our way down to Spanish Fork to drive through the Festival of Lights and have dinner together. This was my first time going through their light display and it was SO fun to watch Luke get excited about the lights. He's very into Christmas lights this year so it was one of my favorite things to watch. I would love to go again, too, so if any of my friends would like to go, we'll go with you!!

The Christmas season is a wonderful time and I'm glad to spend it with family. This next weekend we'll be on our way to St. George to celebrate with my mom and my siblings. I can't wait!!

Currently...

Listening to: "Take My Love" by The Lone Bellow. They opened for Brandi Carlile when Jarvis and I saw her at Red Butte Gardens. We were just starting to date. That summer, that night, those artists, that place... they all have a very special place in my heart.

Reading: "You Are A Badass" by Jen Sincero. Still. *eye roll* I'm a fast reader when I want to be, but I've been working on this book since June. I need to finish, though! I have a few books waiting to be read and I'm excited to read them.

Eating: Nothing. It's almost 11pm.

Drinking: Raspberry Lemonade Crystal Light. What else would I be drinking?! ;)

Wearing: Volleyball spandex and the Irma my sister sent me. This is comfort at it's finest.

Feeling: Lots of things. That's why I got out of bed to write. Thankful. Loved. Inspired. Clarity.

Wanting: To soak in every moment of tomorrow and really "carpe diem." Neither Jarvis or I work so it's a family day and I want to enjoy every minute of it.

Needing: To finish my gospel doctrine lesson. The whole book of Ether.

Thinking: I was thinking a lot about the kids who survived that car crash the weekend before Thanksgiving while I was lying in bed. I wonder how they're doing. How are they dealing with the loss of their friends? I hope they aren't feeling survivors guilt. I wonder if they'll learn some of the same lessons I did when I survived my crash. They're on my mind.

Enjoying: This Crystal Light. Mmm.

Wondering: (see Thinking) and also... If I'll get this new job I applied for at America First. :)

Weathering: (still) my last job move with AF. I realized today that the next step in this healing process is... for me to just get over it. The only thing standing in the way of me and my happiness and peace is myself. I have to own this part now and move on. It's not been and it won't be easy, but it's time. I've allowed myself time to wallow (if that's what you want to call it) and it's time to pick up and move forward.

Loving: God. Jarvis. Luke. My bosses. Pandora. Crystal Light. The Book of Mormon. My new favorite pens. That my house is clean. Our Christmas tree.

Thanksgiving 2016

As I laid in bed tonight (Thanksgiving Eve) trying to fall asleep, the thought came to me that I needed to set aside some time specifically to express my gratitude for everything I have. And then while I laid there thinking about it I remembered something that has stuck out to me recently as I've been studying The Book of Mormon...

(As a gospel doctrine teacher, this happens more often than it used to. haha *wink*)

I'm currently reading Mormon chapters 1-8 which summarizes the destruction of the great Nephite nation. On numerous occasions, Mormon writes about the Nephites not giving credit to their Lord for their blessings.

"And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain; and they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them, and granted unto them a chance for repentance. And behold they did harden their hearts against the Lord their God." (Mormon 3:3)

"And now, because of this great thing which my people, the Nephites, had done, they began to boast in their own strength" (Mormon 3:9)

"And when the Nephites saw that they had driven the Lamanites they did again boast of their own strength; and they went forth in their own might..." (Mormon 4:8)

It's such an easy trap to get caught in, giving yourself credit for your strengths and accomplishments, but that attitude (pride) is what ultimately led the entire Nephite nation to ruin.

So after all of this ran through my head, I got out of bed and here I am, sharing with you the thankfulness of my heart and recognizing that without God I am nothing. I sure have a long way to go on the path to being like Jesus Christ, but recognizing and listing my blessings is a great place to start. So here it is...

We're The Paces

Welcome to my (I mean) OUR new family blog!!

Jarvis and I have been married for just about three years now and I figured it was time to update our blog address. (I know exactly what Jarvis would say if he knew I had just typed this... "three years into marriage and you update the blog address? How many years until you update your last name?" *insert loving eye rolling emoji here*) Everything in their proper order, am I right?

Anyway... so this is us! We are a crazy, normal family with crazy, normal interests... and a little bit of weird and quirky mixed in there, too. So let's get to it and I'll just introduce us.

This is Jarvis

Jarvis is an Ag (agriculture) Science teacher and spends his time teaching high school kids about animal science, veterinary medicine, equine (horse) science, and floriculture and spends a lot of class time with animals in the classroom, hence the snakes. He's also the FFA Advisor and has another class specifically designed for his FFA leadership team. He's one of those lucky individuals that has his hobby for a job and he loves every second of it. When he's not at school, he likes to run, watch anything Marvel related, and play with our little boy. He's an amazing husband and father, which I'm sure you'll hear all about, and he's my favorite part of every day. Love this man.

This is Luke

Oh man... how do you describe a perfect little handsome piece of your heart? *heart eyes* Luke is a year and a half and is all about what HE wants right now. He's smart, curious, and independent which can sometimes drive us crazy, but he's adorable while he does it so it's all good. He loves buses and trains and runs everywhere he goes. He's started repeating a lot of what we say, especially new words, which has taught mommy to use more child-appropriate words when she's scared and angry. (I'm sure I'll get the hang of this parenting thing by the time he graduates.) Luke is our favorite part of life and keeps us running all over the place. We absolutely love it, too.

And this is me (Lauren)

It's always a little weirder/harder describing yourself, am I right? If we spent a day together, the first few things you'd learn about me is that I'm definitely religious, I'm passionate about A LOT of random stuff, and I'm actually pretty serious. I'm a listener and an introvert so it takes a little bit to open me up (unlike my outgoing, extroverted hubby), but I'm very open with those close to me and I love to connect with people. I love learning about anything and (most) everything and would be a professional student if it wasn't so damn expensive. 

I'm the wild & crazy dreamer to Jarvis' 15-20 year plan. I'm the rebel and he's responsible. We're opposite in all the good ways, but we're so much the same in all the ways that matter. I'd say we're pretty lucky to have each other and I know I'm sure blessed to have this amazing man as my partner in life.

Welcome to our blog, our family, and our life.

I'm excited to share our journey with you.