The Little Elliott Family: 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Moments to Remember Photography

My sister-in-law, Bethany, took our family pictures at Gardner Village. Then she went through and touched them up and put effects on the pictures. She is so artistic and she knows what's "in". Her knowledge with regards to photoshop is amazing she can do anything with your pictures. For example we had two pictures where India was looking at the camera but Alayna wasn't and another picture where Alayna was looking but India wasn't. Bethany was able to swap heads in the picture and you couldn't tell that it was photoshopped...voila a picture where everyone is looking at the camera! Her website is www.rememberyours.com. I highly recommend her. She provides so much value and gives you a cd of all of your pictures plus the touchups.

Friday, December 4, 2009

India's Birthday on the Polar Express

India loves the movie Polar Express. So for her birthday we surpised her by taking her to the Heber Creeper (train) where they have elves, hot cocoa, and a trip to the North Pole to see Santa & Mrs. Claus.

These last two pictures are a riot! Alayna must have seen some hidden mistltoe because she decided to give austin a real romantic kiss. I was jealous...so I took this pict! :)

Patty's Daybreak Condo

This deal was a doozy! Patty qualified for a VA loan because she was in the army for awhile. Her interest rate was great and all was looking good until we were assigned a VA Appraiser. The VA appraiser was slower than molassess getting out to the property. When we'd call him to ask him to go out to the property he would say that VA gives him 14 days to complete the appraisal. 14 DAYS!!!!! We don't have 14 days!!!!!!!!! To say the least, he was a Butt! But it gets worse. Patty got this deal under contract in time to qualify for the $4000 Home Run Grant. The Appraiser went out to the property and found the door locked and so he left. Well, the modle home was right around the corner and someone could have let him in. Because he didn't get the home appraised that day Patty couldn't get on the list to get the $4000 grant! So then we had to change the purchase price by $4000 :( It took the appraiser like a week to get back out to the property and then 3-4 days to write up the appraisal report. By the time he got us the appraisal we were all soooo angry. It cost Patty $4000 because this appraiser was a jerk. We called VA to complain and we weren't able to change appraisers. Then when we wanted to close the underwriter found a problem on the appraisal and the appraiser had to fix it and he said his computer was down so that took a few more days. It was such a joke. Patty was a good sport the whole time. Patty has gotten a VA loan in the past and not had these problems and I've talked to other people who've gotten VA loans and they haven't had issues either. It was this one appraiser. Hopefully he will be black listed from VA because the public shouldn't have to work with someone who is so unmotivated to do his job or too busy to provide adequate service.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

6th year first kiss anniversary

Six years ago today was the first time Austin kissed me! November 25th 2003! I remember it well. We went to the dollar theater in Sugar House and they weren't playing any movies we wanted to see and so we were standing around trying to figure out what we should do instead of a movie. I guess we came to the conclusion that we should kiss. It was a real Zowie!

Today I asked Austin to hold my ring while I did some pull ups and when I was done I went to get my ring and Austin was examining it closely. When he gave it back to me he said "this ring has Rachael written all over it!" I got all teary eyed. It's crazy how my ring is so much a part of me. I remember when we went to the Shane Company I was looking for this exact ring. As soon as I saw it I knew it was the one. I'm so grateful that Austin and I have continued to fall in love over the years. Not to say we haven't had our rough times and looked at the exit sign a few times. But we've worked through it and I plan on keeping my wedding ring and having a hundred more kissing anniversaries every November 25th.

A day in the life...

I took this picture today. Alayna was falling asleep in Austin's arms as they watched Bolt. Austin has been at his night job for 4 weeks now. I hadn't noticed until I took this picture that he has lost some weight! Lookin' good hottie!

Zoo Trip

We got season passes to the Zoo this year and this is the first time we got out as a family to go to the Zoo (Austin has taken the girls without me a few times). India doesn't care much for the Zoo but Alayna loves it.

Alayna's Second Birthday

Our little Alayna just turned two. This is her birthday party at Bampa & Goggy's house!

And these are the matching outfits that Great Grandma got the girls

Monday, November 2, 2009

Julie, JC & Ines!

My friend Julie, from France, came to visit us! She brough her husband JC (pronounced ge-say) and Ines (pronouced Enos). We had a great time getting to know her husband who is an airforce mechanic. They came the beginning of September and left on the last day of September. They toured all around Utah, Arizona and Nevada. While they were in the area they came over for dinner and then on another day we went to Lagoon together. I wish France wasn't so far away so that we could see them more often. It had been 8 years since I had seen Julie. She looked amazing!