Sunday, April 18, 2010

I am from…


By: Eden Chase (my little sister)

I am from the 110 degree weather and cactus everywhere,

like a field taken over by weeds.

I am from late night prayers with the family to be followed by hugs and kisses.

I am from never having clothes on,

enjoying the freedom of naked cheeks on the cold tile.

From playing football in the backyard and smelling orange blossoms.

I am from swinging so high, it feels like flying.

Salted popcorn in the big metal bowl and old Disney movies.

I am from early mornings of Boston and star wars/superman soundtrack,

and the feeling of satisfaction from a clean house.

I am from the smell of fresh, homemade food every night for dinner,

Butter and honey on a warm piece of homemade bread and flour covering the kitchen counters.

I am from the stage, singing, dancing, acting.

Dancing, the best way to express your feelings and emotions through the movement of your body.

From hours and hours spent at the dance studio, it becomes a second home.

I am from parents teaching about lives limits, there are none. The stars are your limit.

Dream. Believing anything is possible, never having a doubt.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

I am from the sound of guitar and my brothers voices, serenading.

I am from warm rainy days and mud slides, soft curly hair and the smell of wet cement.

I am from the sound of mom’s voice reading stories right before bed.

I am from my sister and best friend, who lives with me, never having to be alone,

Blond beautiful hair everywhere and crammed bathrooms.

Wrinkly fingers from soapy dish water and dinners that turn in to long conversations,

Which you become lost in, where time ceases.

I am from holding hands, hugs, snuggling . . .

Family.

Eden wrote this for a school project. It brought back a flood of memories. It made me cry. I love my family.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Paisley Rose Morris

We are so blessed!! Paisley Rose Morris was born on October 29th, 2009. She weighed in at 6lbs 6oz, had a 13 inch head and was 20 inches long. We couldn't have timed her arrival more perfectly. My little brother Clayton was leaving to serve a mission on the 28th so I had been worried that perhaps I would go early (like I did with Ava) and my mom would have to leave to be at the birth and miss sending him off. However, we had the big man upstairs coordinating things for us so it all worked out beautifully. I picked my mom up form the airport in the afternoon on the 28th (after she had dropped Clay off at the MTC) and went into labor late that night and had Paisley at 7:40 a.m. the following morning. Her birth was absolutely beautiful! We are so grateful to have this little angel as part of our family.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Baby Picasso

Lately Ava has been really into painting and drawing. We always talk about how we only draw on paper. The other day, she had a marker in her hand that she had been coloring with and said "I draw on door?" She looked at me smiling holding the marker close to the door. I said "Ava where do we draw?" She laughed and said "on paper" thinking it was hilarious to tease me. She repeated this asking process with the wall, stool and floor the whole time thinking she was so funny. After checking all her options, she ran back over to her table with the paper on it sat down and drew some more.



Saturday, July 25, 2009

Camping Fun

We had a blast going camping up at Woods Canyon Lake with Jarrod's dad and Step-mom. It was a fun filled weekend of relaxation and fresh air.

This was a great view on the road to our campground.


Ava liked picking the flowers and smelling them. It was so cute to watch her.

We went fishing at the lake near our campground. Ava got a pink pol...oh ya!

She loved wondering through all these little baby trees.She thought it was great they were her size.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

My amazing husband

I wanted to take a minute and acknowledge Jarrod. For those of you who don't know, I married one amazing guy. He is the best dad I could have chosen for my children. He is patient and kind and always gentle. He is also a fabulous husband. In the words of my mom, "I couldn't have picked a better match for you if I tried." I am the luckiest. Jarrod recently quit his job at Infusionsoft to start his own business. He and his good friend Dustin have partnered and they are involved in a montage of ventures. They are building websites, consulting businesses selling and supporting CRM software among many other things. It took a leap of faith for Jarrod to quite and go out on his own. However, we have been incredibly blessed. These guys are very busy keeping up with the work they have and trying to expand their horizons. I am so grateful that I married a man who has the courage and drive to follow his dreams. He is one of the most driven, hardworking people I know and I admire and love him for that.


Jarrod and playing the piano with Ava at Aunt Tammy's



Me and my handsome husband on our trip to Hawaii


Jarrod and his partner Dustin

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Lake Trip

Yesterday we went to Saguaro Lake with our friends Dustin & Kami and their two little girls. It was so much fun! It was the first time that I towed something with my new truck. Regretfully, I forgot to snap a picture of the two machines all hooked up.

Ava has loved "driving" our vehicles lately, and insisted on driving the boat as well.



More pics from our trip:

Friday, July 17, 2009

Ultrasound Appointment - It's a... _________!

These three videos document our recent trip to the Doctor's office for an ultrasound. In addition to making sure our little baby was healthy, we also found out the gender. If you haven't already heard whether we're having a boy or a girl, you may want to skip directly to video number 2.





Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Ava and her babies

Ava is all girl in so many ways. She loves shoes, dresses, getting her nails painted and most of all her babies. She likes holding them, pushing them in her stroller and sleeping with them. In fact, she will not go to sleep unless she has one of her babies. Sometimes while sleeping if she has dropped her baby or if I have moved her baby, she wakes up and say "babies, babies, babies" and as soon as she gets her baby, she is out again. Lately she has really liked putting her babies in her shirt like this so she can have them with her and also have two hands to work with.


Monday, July 13, 2009

Family Fun

My family was able to come down and visit for a week this summer. We had a blast swimming and spending time together. Mom and the girls also undertook helping us finish some painting we have been trying to get done. Those Chase girls are quite an amazing team. Ava loved having the kids around. They took her to the park everyday and she had a great time having so many people at her beck and call. It was sad to see them go but we will do it again soon.


Jarrod and Severin playin' some ball


Ava loves her aunt Maurin or Maya as she calls her. She has called her just about every day since they left.


Ava loved going to the park with Sev and Maurin


My mom and the girls saved my life by helping finish the painting of our house. This is Liberty helping Ava join in all the fun.


All the girls at Grandma Squires



Jarrod and Ava int the pool swimming


All the gorgeous girls Liberty, Emma, Maurin, Sylvia, Madi & Eden


Uncle Clay and his girlfriend Madi with our Ava girl

Saturday, June 27, 2009

BLACK BEAUTY | The New Truck...What?!

Yes, you read correctly. I'm buying a new truck. From the day I got home from my mission I set an intention to own the truck of my dreams by the time I turned 25 years old. I think I had originally set that goal and date because

1) I thought it would take that long to be able to afford the truck, insurance and gas and

2) I knew I would get a huge insurance break once I was 25 years of age

Well, I turned 25 a little less than 2 months ago and I am buying a lifted, supped up, tricked out truck that will be a part of so many new memories. Can't wait to take it camping, 4 Wheeling, pull a boat with it for the first time...

...it just makes me wonder what might have happened if I had set an intention to own a truck like this at the age of 23, or the age of 27. My guess is that I would have got it at either age 23, or age 27.

Napoleon Hill said something to the effect of, "What ever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve."


What do you want to achieve? Dream about it, believe it, and do the necessary work to achieve it!


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Awaiting The Chase Family

We shot this video shortly after finding out that Mandy's Family is coming to visit us. We can't wait for their arrival. We will most definitely burst the Fun-O-Meter this week.


Sunday, March 22, 2009

Ready for Number 2


As you can tell, one of us is expecting. There's a funny story behind the "testing process." We first started with a pregnancy test that was two bars if pregnant, one bar if not. Well, one bar was really bold and the second bar we could just barely see.

That's when we moved to a test that was a little more clear. Plus sign if pregnant, negative sign if not. This time a plus sign displayed, but it was still very light. We didn't want to get too excited until we knew for sure...

Jarrod: How can we know for sure?
Mandy: I don't know, I guess you could pee on it. (somewhat joking)
Jarrod: Good idea, I'll do it!
Mandy: Are you serious?
Jarrod: Ya, why not?

- Jarrod does his thing, comes out after waiting time and they both look -

Jarrod's test has a vague negative sign. Mandy's test has a vague positive sign.

PREGO! Now we can't wait to find out whether we are having a boy or a girl. Our baby and Ava will be about 22.5 months apart. Feeling very blessed and excited to grow our family.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas

We decided to stay in AZ this year and spend Christmas in our new home. Jarrod severed a mission so he has spent Christmas away from his family before but this was a first for me. It was different but still beautiful. Ava got into opening present a few days before Christmas so it was really fun. I feel so blessed to have the life I do. Heavenly Father has truely blessed me and my family.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

More Birthday pics

Ava and the Mama



on the slide with Grandma Shirley



Ava and her dashing dad



The whole Family



Ava took a shine to Tyler.



Trent and Tanner hanging out by the cake and getting in touch with their feminine side.



Ava loves Aunt Tammy



She also loves babies. Ryan and Tisha gave this baby to Ava. She is starting a little collection.



Opening Gifts - Ava got so many beautiful gifts! Thanks all!



This is Riley, Ava's cousin once removed. These two couldn't get enough of each other. Ava kept hugging Riley and didn't want to let her go. Riley was very accommodating of our little love monster.



Grandpa Bill, Jarrod and Ava baby



mmmmmm cake!!!!



Can't believe she is one!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Ava's Birthday Party

Ava's birthday was actually on Thursday. However she wasn't feeling well early in the week so we decided to have a party for her at the park in our neighborhood on Saturday. It was a blast!!

I had fun making the cake

Step 1



Step 2



Step 3



Finished product
Turned out better than I hoped



I think she liked it

Friday, December 12, 2008

Me and my man



Coming up on our two year anniversary! Crazy. We have so much fun together.

Our girl is officially One!!!


We are throwing Ava a 1 year old Birthday party on Saturday. I can hardly believe it has been a year since Ava was born. She has been such a blessing. It is amazing to watch her grow and change. She is so smart. I can't wait to see who and what she becomes.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Get Elf'd Disco Style

Jarrod, Mandy, Ava, Bo & Santa dancing their pants off.
Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Friday, November 7, 2008

We Finally Closed On Our Home!!!


6 Months and 10 offers later, we finally closed today on a gorgeous home - now known as "Morris Manor." We'll try and post a bunch of BEFORE & AFTER pictures soon but for now, this is it.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Fall For You Cover

This is Mandy's brother Stu. He is an amazing singer / songwriter. Check out his stuff on his YouTube Channel - Sterling M Chase and make sure you subscribe. There's a whole lot more to come.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The pumkin patch

We went to this really cute little farm styled pumpkin patch off of Baseline Rd.

Ava loved the little chicks.



The pumpkin we chose was half her size.



Jarrod is such a great daddy. Love this picture!!



Our little Family

Monday, September 22, 2008


Although Ava did well in a car seat when she was small, she has since developed an allergy to her car seat. One of my friends suggested moving her from a baby car seat to an upright one. This has worked remarkably well. Now we can drive in the car for about 20 minutes before she starts trying to bust free ;)