Daddy and Me

MY MEN...HOW I LOVE THEM!

Braxton's First Park Visit!

Justin had to work on Presiden't Day, so Braxton and I decided to hang out a little with our friends Eli and Cori and their little daughter Indianna at the park. It was Braxton's first visit! Too bad he is still a little young to play on the toys, but I think he liked being outside where all the action was. (He definitely wasn't too fond of the sun, though!)


He apparantly found something that tasted good too. Cori's shirt! Yummy!

Tagged Again!

I love reading people's "Tagged" entries, but I have to admit I love reading them more than writing them. :) All well, here is what I came up with:

1) What I was doing 10 years ago: Let's see.. I was 14, so, I was probably eating, eating, and eating some more. Trying on a pair of jeans which didn't fit, crushing on a cute boy in my choir class who wasn't crushin' back, feeling sorry for myself and then eating to make myself feel better. Yeah, I was a fatty. Thank goodness not all things are permanant, huh? :)

2) 5 Things on my To Do list today:
1)Feed Braxton
2) Finally add another blog post
3)Make dinner
4)clean up doggie poopie
5) fold like 10 loads of laundry

3) I enjoy: Reading, taking care of my baby boy, spending time with my hubby, spending time with my family in Mesa, watching a good chick flick, going to dinner and a movie, the rain, chocolate, quiet time, having philosophical conversations with anyone who wants to join me, holidays, talking and spending time with friends...

4) If I were suddenly made a billionaire: I would pay off all bills and debt, put money away for kids college, give some to family who needs it, buy a juccuzi and a pool, buy a boat, buy a vacation home on a lake or the beach, travel Europe, put money away to get a tummy tuck when I am done having babies, (is that vain? Sorry...I just hate having a gut that won't go away!) have my brother draw lots of cool paintings and art for my home and then pay him very well for it, hire someone to pick up all the doggie poopie in my backyard so I don't have to do it, buy a four-wheeler and waverunners, and the list goes on and on...

5) 5 Jobs I have had: Babysitter, Yogurt Shop server (my favorite cause I got to eat all the yogurt...yum!) Instructional Assistant for after school program, Bank of America credit card specialist, Admin Assistant for tile company.

6) 5 Things people don't know about me:
1) I love to cook, even though it doesn't always turn out as perfect as I would like it to.
2) If I could do life over, I would be a dancer and would do it professionaly. I just LOVE to dance. Its a passion of mine that I realized too late.
3) I love to look at the stars. Not only are they beautiful and so peaceful, but there is a whole universe out there that I love to dream about.
4) I hate seafood. Yuck.
5) I have always wanted red, curly hair. Tried the red part once and it didn't go over so well.

Now I tag: Heidi B. (if you haven't been tagged yet) Kristen and Celeste (if you want to) and Aileen!

And Then There Were...5?

We bought a new puppy! Justin has been wanting another dog for a long time, so when we were roaming through the pet store on Friday night and were offered a deal for this little boxer puppy...I don't know whose face was more pleading, Justin's or the puppy's! I know I'm crazy for saying yes when I have a small son that demands all my attention, but I just couldn't say no. Now I have two babies to take care of. Hmmm...


He is alot of work, and the potty training is coming slowly, but he is a good puppy and I'm sure he will turn out to be another great addition to the family. (There is an awful lot of testosterone in this family these days...I am feeling a little outnumbered.) We named him Marley. Why you ask? I have no idea.

All My Love to My Love

Today I am feeling especially grateful for my husband.

For all those who don't know Justin that well, let me fill you in a little bit. He was raised by a single mother who worked hard to give her children all they needed and wanted in life, and she did a wonderful job. But his father was never present in his life and so he never had a father figure to look up to and have as an example of what a husband/father should be like. Justin's family was baptised when he was a young boy, but then became less active through his teenage years.

After he graduated from high school, he listened to the spirit whispering to him that he needed to serve a mission, so he gave up his dream of becoming a star football player to become reactivated in the church and serve a full time mission in Boston, Mass.

He then returned to Mesa, Az to live with the only other active member of his family, his aunt, and attended the singles ward where he spied a tall, beautiful burnette princess (hey...its my story...I can embellish is where I want! ;)) and fell madly in love with her.

Well she was just a little bit stubborn so it took a lot of chasing and wooing on his part but eventually she came around and fell head over heels for this charmer and well...the rest is history in the making!

I tell this story to show that throughout his life, Justin has always risen above the challenges thrown in his path and he has come out conquerer in the end every time. Despite the fact that the only memories of his father are ones of abuse and neglect, he treats me with love and devotion every day. I don't think a single day goes by where he does not call me from work to tell me he misses me and he loves me.

He works hard, long hours 6 days out of the week so that we can have the necessities of life, with a little extra to spare to enjoy the pleasant, enjoyable things in life. He comes home after these long hours of work and still helps to clean the kitchen after dinner is finished. And despite the fact that he did not have a father, he has become a wonderful one. He suprises me every day with how playful and loving he is with little Braxton, even when the baby is screaming and crying and none too fun to hold at the moment

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He alone in his immediate family has stayed true to the church, even though many times throughout his life he has had opportunities that would have made him large in the world of men. He has turned them down every time and instead has chosen to be a man of God.

He is persistant and he perserveres and he works hard to accomplish what he has set his mind to. He is a hero, a true hero, MY hero, in every sense of the word, and I am so grateful and priviledged to spend the rest of eternity with this man. Thank goodness for eternal families, and thank goodness for my man, Justin. All my love sweetheart.

Braxton looks like Who?

Ok, so since the day he was born, everyone (including me) says my boy looks JUST LIKE JUSTIN. Like a little mini version of his father. But then I pulled out these pictures of us as babies, and...hhmmmm...I just happen to think that currently Baby Caruso looks more like ME! Justin will never agree, so...what do YOU think? The first one is Braxton, the next one Justin and the one on the bottom is me. I think I win this one!!

Blessing Braxton

We blessed Braxton yesterday. We ended up doing it at our house in the evening so everyone could come that wanted to, then we had dinner afterwards. It was a sweet blessing, and mommy was so happy that Braxton was happy during the prayer! (He was getting really fussy right before we were supposed to start.) Here he is in his little blessing outfit. Its a little blurry, but I had to use it cause he was smiling!

My Little Man!!

Here is Braxton with his little cousin Heather (Daniel and Brookie's baby) who was born just a week before him. They are already buds!

My baby is starting to SMILE!! Here is a little video where I got him to do it for me a little. It melts me heart when he smiles at me! I'm in love!

A Foggy Day...

So a couple nights ago in the middle of the night I kept hearing trains blowing their horns right outside our house as they passed and it was making me mad cause they normally dont do that and I had a sleeping baby that I had just barely put down! Well the next morning I awoke and opened and shutters and I seriously had to blink a couple times...I thought my eyes were all cloudy! But no...this is what I saw! We were right in the middle of a cloud! How fun is that! That explained why the trains kept whistling so much. I hadn't seen fog like that in a LONG time so I just had to take a picture. I love it!

My sister was out in my backyard just enjoying the view, and me, being the crafty girl that I am, ;) (that was a joke) saw that with the sunset in the background, that would make some awesome pictures! So I grabbed my camera and took a few. The first is the best because you can just see her silouette (which was what I was going for). She could do alot better, being the photographer in the family, but I think they still look pretty cool!