our babies!

Nathan and I decided long ago that, unless personal revelation or fate intervenes, we'd like to wait a few years to have kids. That being said, thanks to my cousin's sons Clayton and Dylan and my soon-to-be nephew Jacob, I'd been feeling that maternal urge swelling upward until I couldn't take it anymore. So..........we adopted two kittens instead!



We've had Simon and Fisher for just over a month now and even though neither Nathan or I would ever describe ourselves as "cat people," we both have to say that we can't imagine how we ever got along without our boys. Yes, they like to pounce on you right when you're about to fall asleep and yes, it's now unsafe to leave anything in a cardboard box, but they bring us so much -joy. There's nothing more entertaining than to watch a 2 month-old kitten pretend he's a monkey and hang upside down from your desk chair, and nothing more peaceful than to read your scriptures at night with the two of them sleeping on the back of the couch, purring their happiness. These are our babies!

The whole litter at six weeks. We were originally only going to get Fisher (the tan one, second from the left), but when we went to visit, we realized that we couldn't leave Simon to be the only one left behind.

This was right after they figured out that they're big enough to climb onto the window sill. Simon's in a constant state of wanting to attack something...he thinks he's so stealth...his brother actually IS.

Simon on his new throne in mom's room.

Fisher giving himself a bath, propped up against my neck. He's the kind of guy who only likes to be snuggly when it's his idea. And then, you'd better drop everything and give him your undivided attention...or else.

The brothers, napping peacefully on a sleepy afternoon.

pictures from before

Here are some of my favorite photos of Nathan and I - well, at least since fall of last year (all the others, the cute ones from when we first started dating, are in storage on a back-up computer until I get around to transfering them).
From top to bottom...

• October 2007 at the pumpkin patch. Note Nathan's long hair in preparation from going as Jim from the Office for Halloween.
• December 27th, 2007 at the Vista House in Corbett. That was the cold, blustery, gorgeous day that Nathan got down on one knee, in the snow, and asked me to be his wife!
• April 2008 in Cabo San Lucas. Thanks to Grandma's condo points, Mom's frequent flyer miles and the fact that Nathan had never gone international, we got to spend a week in sunny Mexico!
• June 7th, 2008, after Bridal Shower #1. While the girls got to eat sandwiches, exclaim over gifts of silverware and a canister set, and watch Big Brown lose the Belmont, the boys were off shooting pool and bowling over plates of nachos.
• June 14th, 2008 at my graduation. What a perfect day it was to bid farewell to a memorable and meaningful college career. Once a Duck, always a Duck!

getting started

Well I'll start by saying that I have had a blog before. Admittedly, no one ever read it except for myself, spammers and my first boyfriend. I stopped posting months ago because it was becoming mostly song lyrics, playlists, tributes to dead racehorses that no one (but me) cared about and the last threads tied to a past I have decided to let rest.
My cousin Brittany has done a phenomenal job chronicling the life and times of her young and wonderful family and even though Nathan and I aren't married yet (55 days!), I figure it's not too soon to start following her example.
The next few posts will probably be mostly pictures and random stories...maybe some details on how the soon-to-be-Angle-Shaws got started and where we are planning on going. Enjoy!