Wow....

So I basically stink at this! I really have no good excuse as to why I stopped blogging. Just laziness! But I'll give you a quick overview of our lives since my last post.

• Jake graduated from BYU!!!!! Yay! He now has a college degree and we are done with school. We couldn't be more happy. We finally feel like real grown ups.
• We took a trip to Houston to visit my Uncle and Aunt just a week or so before Hurricane Harvey hit - which was such a blessing (all our family was safe and no major damage was done to their homes).
• Jake interviewed and got his "dream job" with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Facilities Manager. He loves it and is so happy at his job. We are so so so grateful.
• Along with getting that dream job we moved to Southern California from Utah where we were for about 9 months. We are thoroughly enjoying SoCal and are thrilled to start this new adventure.

That's just the reader's digest version of that last few months of our lives. We are finally settled in and feeling like we belong in the SCV. We are enjoying meeting new people and making new friends! Juliet is growing up so much! She is the cutest!

Wonder

My awesome family has a book club, and I have been able to finally join in since I have finished school. I am loving it! I love to read books and I love to talk to people about the books I have read. ANYWAYS! We are reading a book called "Wonder" by RJ Palacio. So far I am loving it. It is about a boy with a severe facial deformity as he enters middle school - he has been home schooled up to this point. Middle school is brutal anyways and he has it way worse just because he looks different.
I am currently on the chapter that is from the sister's perspective about her brother and there a few things that really resonated with me. I am a sibling of someone with special needs. Although our brothers live with different disabilities, there are still some things, that as siblings we have in common. I wanted to share a few quotes from the book that really stuck with me.

"August is the Sun. Me and Mom and Dad (and in my case, the other siblings as well) are the planets orbiting the Sun. The rest of our family and friends are asteroids and comets floating around the planets orbiting the Sun".
This is our lives. It has been since B was a baby, and still is this way today. Our family has grown a lot and we have a lot going on, but we still orbit around the same Sun. That is just the way our family works.

"I'm used to the way this universe works. I've never minded it because it's all I've ever known"...."This isn't me being noble, by the way: it's just the way I know it is. And this is the way it's always been for me, for the little universe of us".
I can't remember a time when B did not have autism. He always has, and he always will. A lot of the time people tell me that I am a special kind of person because of the way I take care of my brother and that they could never do that. But they are wrong. They could do it, and they would do it because they had to. Just like I have to. We have to. B is a part of our family. That's the way it always has been and always will be. You adapt to your situation. I do not hold one ounce of resentment towards B or my parents because our family universe did not revolve around me.

I am a better person because B is my brother. I have learned a lot, grown up a lot, and loved a lot. In the book, the sister talks about how she has had to fend for herself sometimes because her parents have to help August. I feel like I had to grow up and take care of myself in some ways. I didn't want to be another burden for my parents to have to take on. When I started going through my initial anxiety attacks, I didn't want to say anything to my parents because I was the "good kid" and the "strong kid". The one that never caused problems. It is hard to be in that position. You watch your parents as they worry, work, and care for your sibling. You don't want to add to that. And like the sister in the book says, "this isn't me being noble, but the way: it's just the way I know it is".

I didn't want to write this post to make anyone upset (mom I am saying this for you because I know you still worry about not giving us the attention we deserve) or for anyone to pity me. I just wanted to share some of my insights on being a sibling of someone with special needs. It is not a walk in the park, but it is an uphill walk, and one that I wouldn't trade.

"I'm used to the way this universe works. I've never minded it because it's all I've ever known".

Juliet turns One

Our little baby Juliet turned one! I can't even believe it! Time goes by way too fast. We are loving this new phase that she is in right now. She is so curious, exploring, and interacting so much more! She really enjoys hiding and playing peek-a-boo and being chased. We love her little giggle and her toothy smile!
We threw Juliet a birthday party the Saturday before her birthday with a few family members. It was a ton of fun! She enjoys being the center of attention and I love to sit back and watch her.

My sister T is a master baker so I asked for her assistance and support as I made Juliet's cake and cupcakes for her party! With our team work they turned out pretty great!

I found this cute little iron on shop on Etsy so I made this onesie for Jules

This is Juliet as a 1 year old posing with her 1 day old self! So adorable! And you see what I mean about her smile right?! She is perfect!

This is our new place. We love it! It is so homey!

Juliet's smash cake

This little girl is becoming more and more like a toddler every day and as much as I love it, it breaks my heart a little! She wants to be so independent. I love my Juliet!

Caribbean Cruise

For our Christmas gift in 2016 my parents took us on a cruise to the Caribbean - all of my siblings too! It was AMAZING! We had the best time! I'm gonna post a million pictures and go into more detail there!

We went into our room and I started unpacking and Juliet immediately climbed into our closet and played. She loves any tiny space that she can fit into. She is the cutest, sweetest girl!

Juliet won an award for dancing in the middle of a party. She was the only one out there shakin' her stuff, but she had a great time and brought the house down! This little girl loves people, loves attention, and loves to have fun. She always brings the party with her!

This is the back of the t-shirts that my dad made for everyone on the cruise. Juliet was asleep in this picture and it was just too darn cute to pass up. 

Us on elegant night!

Juliet dancing with Grandpa on elegant night

They brought Juliet a little birthday cake to celebrate her first birthday. She wasn't quite sure what to do with herself! 

Diving in! She mostly played in the cake and didn't eat it.

On our way to the Sea Turtle Hatchery in the Cayman Islands

Posing in front of our ship! There were 3 or 4 other cruise ships out that day as well. I love seeing cruise ships, especially at night because they get all lit up!

This is the Mayan Ball Game. We visited this park in Cozumel. It was our favorite day. We learned so much about the Mayan culture and this ball game. The players could only hit the ball with their hips or their knees and try to make into a hoop connected to the side of the wall.

Juliet loved every second of it! We were all captivated. There was a man drumming and singing during the game and Juliet was dancing and clapping. It was fun to see her having such a great time.

With all the players

One of our beach views!

Juliet and I got to meet Thing 1 and Thing 2 at the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast one morning. I thought Juliet was going to be scared of the characters, but she wasn't! She smiled at them.

Juliet in fact ordered Green Eggs and Ham and she ate it all up!

We stopped in the Florida Keys for lunch and we got to eat lunch on this beach. It was so beautiful and delicious! We stopped at a key lime shop on our way out of town and got frozen slices of key lime pie, dipped in chocolate, on a stick. They were fantastic! I would go back just for that! So if you are ever in the Keys, look up the Blonde Giraffe.

Holding the Sea Turtles in the Cayman Islands. We got to swim with them later on that day. It was very cool!

Mom and Dad got a surprise for their anniversary (My brother J put it all together for them!) It was really sweet! We all got together and shared the cake. Yum!

Our fun Mayan Ball Game group. Aunt T chose to come with us that day and we she was so glad that she did. As were we!

We had a really fun time on the cruise and can't wait to work off ALL the weight we gained so that we will be ready for our next cruise! Oooooh boy!!!

Christmas 2016

This Christmas was extremely fun because it was Juliet's first Christmas! We got Christmas jammies and everything! We were moving to Utah the 23rd of December so we got to drive through Las Vegas and spend a few hours with our Vegas family before continuing on to Utah to move into our new house and spend Christmas with our family there. Juliet loved opening presents and playing with her new toys. Santa brought her a Whinnie the Pooh train that she can ride and it plays music. Let's just say, it was a major hit!

Aunt T cam a few days before we moved to help us pack up the house. She saved the day! She came with me to take Juliet to meet Santa. 

Juliet's first Santa visit. I think it is a right of passage for every kid to meet Santa and cry.

Juliet's Christmas dress. She felt so pretty! At church she walked up and down the aisles waving at everyone. It was precious!

Hanging with Grandpa W

Our Christmas jammies! I knew that I couldn't pay Jake enough money to be matchy-matchy with Jules and I, so I just got him a basic set of jammies. He complied.

This is a toy that Great Grandma B brought Juliet back from her vacation to the Middle East. Super cool!

The favorite item of the day!

Playing with cousin E. These cute girls are 2 months apart. It will be so fun for Juliet to have so many cousins close to her age. 

Quick Weekend Stop

Grandma L and Grandpa R came for a quick weekend visit. It was their last trip to CA to see us before we move. Juliet and I picked them up from the airport and immediately headed down to the city to have lunch on the Pier and tour Alcatraz. We were gone for most of the day (even got caught in the commuter traffic.....). We met up with Jake for dinner at this delicious Mexican Restaurant by our house and stuffed our faces. Juliet caught a cold over Thanksgiving, and our trip to Alcatraz made it worse so we stayed in the next two days and played games, ate yummy food, and watched some tv. It was relaxing and just what we needed! I love having family come to visit, and I am sure gonna miss CA.

Juliet all bundled up. In the shade of the prison it was really cold!

View of the city from the Island - that is the Bay Bridge

The prison

Uncle S told us to try out this mini donut shop that makes fresh donuts and gives them to you in a bucket. So we did and we were not disappointed! 

Dad and I looking real good. Another shot of the city from the Island

Grandpa R, Grandma L, and Juliet 

Sunday Juliet stayed home from church due to her cold so Grandma and Grandpa willingly took the responsibility of staying with her. Grandpa never turns down snuggles with his baby!

Thanksgiving

We went to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving and had such a fun time! Lots of family, food, and fun times. Jake and I got to spend a night down on the strip for our anniversary and Grandma and Grandpa watched Juliet for us. It was lovely. Juliet also met her great-grandparents. There was lots of cousin time and Juliet loved chasing all this kids around.

Juliet with Great Grandma F - they had met prior to this Thanksgiving, but this is their first picture

At the airport with dad!

Our anniversary date night! Happy 4 years to us!

Little E and Juliet were fighting over Grandma! It was really funny and cute!

Meeting Great-Grandpa W

Juliet and E are three months apart. Juliet loved playing with E, but E wasn't so sure about this new girl on her turk

Uncle Jake is always a winner with the kids!

Juliet LOVED to climb up on the fireplace, but she didn't know how to get down herself so it was always a battle with her. She knows how to climb down now - of course

Posing with the sign outside of Great Grandma and Great Grandpa's house

Meeting Great Grandma W

I love this picture so much. Juliet playing with Grandpa W

We also went to a basketball game with the siblings and Grandma and Grandpa watched all the kids. We of course did not take a picture, but we had a fun night. We got into the game and joked around. It was nice to hang out with family again. I love hanging out with Jake's family because we are the youngest, and it is nice to have "older siblings".