.hubby happiness.

yes. i am so happy to have my hubby back. however we have had our "moments" of frustrations towards one another. andrew told my mom this today, "tasha would call me when i was in idaho saying, i miss you. i wish you were here. I would tell her, you will have enough of me real soon..." well. i definitely had ENOUGH of him... but it is ALOT different having a tag-a-long everywhere. sometimes good. and sometimes bad. but i have been enjoying it more than anything.

.so yes. my hubby is awesome. he took up the job with weekend to watch the kirby kids overnight. i knew it wasn't going to be that big of a deal. but honestly, i knew it was going to "test" andrew a bit. kian is OBSESSED with andrew. he loves his "man" time of playing halo and being so good at 9 that he beats andrew to shreds. so while kian enjoys playing video games and "man" times... holly also enjoys spending time with andrew. now, if holly being 5 and a girl had her way... what would her "fun" be...

yes. that's right. for you that cant see the picture too well. holly is painting andrew's nails. he was SUCH a good sport. she painted all of his nails different colors. he looked at me when she asked to paint his nails and i said to him, "andrew. you know those colors will probably come off over night when your sleeping" with a wink. andrew understood and let holly enjoy herself. we had tammy over for dinner too. it was good to sit, talk, and let the kids run. once tammy left, we had airheads for dessert and brushed teeth, pj's, and watched alice in wonderland. andrew and i were tired. however we worked WELL as a team... he was in charge of "the boy" (kian) and i was in charge of "the girl" (holly). andrew went to bed about 10 minutes into the movie. i texted him at 10 with two kids still WIDE AWAKE. 11 o clock i went to bed, and was awaken by 8 by holly climbing in bed with andrew and i. we scooted over, and she laid down next to me. anyways. it was GREAT. i really enjoyed having kids over. i am SO baby hungry... so allowing me to watch kids, having them come cuddle in the morning, and having them spend the night, eat breakfast, etc... kinda lets me have my "high" from wanting a baby so bad. andrews's opinion was VERY different, his comments after this weekend was,

"that was a GREAT birth control."

And if you want to know why i am baby hungry.... here is one HUGE reason...

http://millerfamilyjewels.blogspot.com/

my sister's blog. go to it and look at the video under the post called "I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT"

her new christmas tradition that i am truly doing :)

.christmas.

.latest news/updates with the westensee family.

.andrew finished his semester with a 4.0. i am so happy for him, he worked hard and deserved it. he treated himself to a very expensive "celebration".... he was able to ski a total of 4 times. he loved every minute of it. of course 3 of the 4 times was BEFORE he got his skis...whoops. he LOVED his new skis. he was SO shocked i pulled that one off. Christmas day, i put 100 1 dollar bills in a bag... he pulled out 1 of the 100 dollar bills and was like, funny tash. than he pulled back to tissue paper so see the remaining 99 dollar bills. he was SPEECHLESS. i proceeded to tell him it was 100 towards his ski boots to go with his skis that was waiting to be picked up. again...speechless. than a "no-way". than a smile. his look was something like this.

tasha finished working long hours as sees candies for an extra few paychecks before the holiday season. she ended up LOVING working there, and will be in the "cute" sees outfit around Valentines day & Easter again. Hey, you try making this outfit look cute....even barbie cant pull it off....

Meanwhile she is continuing to work with the Kirbys and L

OVES every minute of it. She gets very teary eyed when talking about leaving them in April. She LOVED her Christmas vacation. She was showered with presents, and was happy to see that everyone (Debbie.Roger.Heather.Evan) enjoyed their presents from Andrew & herself. She HATED the long 12 hour drive back to Washington...but things are beginning to fall back into place, and become more settled.

Andrew- is looking into a job, when he gets time not being a slave around the McDonald household. (building a deck). He enjoys staying busy, and recently received a calling in church to team teach with Tash a 6-7 year old Primary class. He is looks forward to enjoying married

life....FINALLY.

Tash seems to be stressed about "settling." She hates the mess of the basement... and wants to keep working at it, but gets burnt out. She is however, very excited with the progress Andrew and her have made, and looks forward to it being completed. She is so happy to start work again for the Kirbys and has missed Kian and Holly dearly. She is VERY baby hungry...but knows now is not the time. She loves coming home to her husband... and thanks the Lord everyday for him...even when he is a punk.

Updates of our Temple Square Christmas walk with pictures will be posted as soon as i find the camera :)

.update.

Most recent news with the Westensee Family. Andrew is "done" with school mentally, but still has 2 more weeks ahead of him. He is doing wonderful in all his classes, he just seems to have the brains I am still searching for.

I am still working with the Kirby Family whom I love and cherish. Even with the goldfish and grapes I found last night on the floor of my car that didn't make me too happy, I still love them so stinking much. Kian told me Thursday, "Tash, I really like your hair like that." What i great time to say something, cause I wasn't feeling so "pretty" that day!

I also got a second "seasonal" job as See's Candies. I was afraid at the beginning of the interview when they explained they were looking for a sales person, and that I didn't have experience there. I though for sure, I was done. But at the end of the interview, Steve asked, "my question is would you like to work for us?" YES! Even though I wanted to say no because it meant an extra week of not seeing Andrew (by the time I see him on Christmas Eve, we will be almost at one month), however I knew I couldn't be selfish, and think about my family now. It was a little extra money now, and around Valentines Day & Easter, and they will hire you back around these times if your in town :) Great for a mom. So I took it, start training Monday. So excited. :)

That's about it. I was reading my sister's blog and it inspired me to write a few "random" facts/post about myself. Facts that I have thought alot about this week.

* I am VERY hard on myself. I have low self-confidence. It gets to me alot. I compare myself to other girls all the time. I wish I was prettier, skinnier, smaller chested, smaller theighed, etc. its a MAJOR problem I have, but it eats away at me constantly.

* I worry about being a good wife/mom to Andrew. I see his mom and all the wonderful thing she has does, and continues to do for him. He is very independent and that scares me sometimes. I am attached to the boy, especially emotionally. Andrew- DOES NOT show feelings/emotions. I think I have seen him cry 2 in the time I have known him. 1-when he was singing a song to me, while we danced-talking about him leaving for his mission 2-Emma's funeral. I worry about making meals, laundry, money, just being a supportive wife, now one that is a burden.

* I blame myself everyday for the sh** i put Andrew through. Yet, even with it all, he has stuck through it with me, and been there for me. He sees something in me, that I don't see in myself (potential). I kick myself in the booty everyday knowing the pain i put my husband through. I know i made mistakes, I regret them, but I also learned from them. Even with the regret, I am glad that I experienced all of them, they shaped me into a better person, and really brought realization to my life/eyes that Andrew was the one for me, and the one who will be there for me through thick and thin.

* I know I am a daughter of God, who loves me and I love him. I have a very strong testimony of my Savior and His love for me. I am thankful for the Atonement, and through it, I was be perfected again, and be sealed to my sweetheart. I LOVE the temple and the blessings I have been promised and the work I can do there. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life, and the assuring feelings it brings to me, through trials in my life. I am thankful for my husband and his love, faith and companionship in me.

.for time & all eternity.

On Saturday, November 21, 2009 I married my high school sweetheart for time & all eternity in the Portland, Oregon Temple. It was a beautiful day, a bit chilly, but the clouds made way and parted when we walked out the door hand in hand, a VERY happy mr. & mrs. westensee.

My stomach was twisted the night before, I felt my mouth gain another canker sore from the stress/nervous feelings. I went through the temple for myself Friday morning. Though still tired, I was nervous but eager. Andrew didn't help when he kept questioning "are you nervous, are you ready for this?" Being such a sacred experience, I cannot further the conversation, however, it was one of the most emotional/eye opening/heart felt experience I have ever had. I was SO thankful Andrew was able to be there as well as my family & close friends. I grew such a deeper love for Andrew, and truly was so grateful for him to be there to "pull me through & help me through." (cant talk too much about temple...sorry!)

Three o clock rolled around and everyone was stressed, and running every which way. I am so thankful and grateful for my sisters that took my hand, and truly helped me through the reception/wedding planning. Although the "layout" & "decorations" did not turn out how I had pictured... it was better. It was absolutely beautiful. Ronnie did an AMAZING job on the archway... and Kristina did an AMAZING job on the backdrop behind the food table. The boys worked hard to give the ceiling the effect that I wanted. My dear Andrew could tell I was stressed...walked over to me at about 7:30 gave me his debit card and said, "get out of here, go get your nails done" two hours later, I walked through and it looked absolutely beautiful. It was better than i imagined.

We stayed a couple of hours, I think about 11 o clock we finally got home...everyone tired. I walked through the house into 2 kids running around with cheese stick in their hands (one also in sponge curlers) and my sisters who has already slaved over my reception was dying each other's hair. It was quite a sight. My older sisters took time to make sure I had everything, and if I needed anything else. 2am I finally went to bed, to arise at 6am.

Tired, but eager, I got up, wash my hair and put on my makeup. Headed downstairs to wake up my prego sister Natalie to help with my hair. She did an AMAZING job. Little did people know, I had a fake hair piece in to make my hair look fuller. I wasn't sure about it being all up, and actually told Andrew, I don't know if I like my hair all up....but Andrew's face when we saw me all "done up" was priceless.

To the temple we went. Late. But my words were, "I'm a bride who needed to finish getting ready" as we pulled into the parking lot. Of course, the people in the temple were nicer than ever, and didn't say a thing about my tardiness. Andrew and I went our separate ways to get dressed, came back together. A grin from cheek to cheek were painted across both our faces as we walked into the room where family & friends were gathered. We knealed across the alter and was sealed for time and all eternity.

The new Westensee Family.my personal favorite.

.kissing.

.scottie's favorite..!!!!kirby family came to greet us!!!!!

.my darling "kids".

.my favorite 2 & 4 year old in the whole wide world. .cake kiss.

.the aftermath...he was nice to me.
.1 boy & 7 girls..everyone who was there to greet us.
.oneals. judds. westensees. mcdonalds. kirbys.

.bridal shower.

.last night i attended a bridal shower for ME. it was so much fun to catch up with friends, and recreate memories. one game, was a bunch of pictures of me, and they had to guess my age... i couldnt remember how old i was in half the pictures. neither could my mother. so we guessed. when game time came around, katelynn stark told me in about 3 pictures of age and why. one was one her 18th birthday making me 17 (mom and i guessed 16). another she reinformed me that the boys went to state their junior year, making me 17 (mom and i guessed 17). and the last picture i forgot. it was alot of fun.

.i got ALOT of amazing presents. picture frames, my table "squares" (cant think of right word right now), candles, cooking set, pan, apple slicer, gift card, rolling pin, potatoe slicer, can opener, money, "a cold night set (blanket, mugs, hot chocolate) etc. One of my very favorite, just because I have never owned one (I KNOW WEIRD) was a makeup bag from Cindy Cheney. Not only because it was a set of three, so for traveling was it amazing. but it was EXACTLY my colors. NO JOKE! It was black and white with pink added!! AMAZING! and of course, i got lingerie from my girls (kate & jazzi)...one is silky HOT PINk with black... and the other is BLACK with purple. (i usually dont like purple, but it is ridiculously CUTE).

.cindy cheney put on one amazing party. wow. it was absolutlely awesome! I have attended ONE other party, so i didnt know what to expect. The games were fun, and the food was AMAZING! Cindy did a "hawaiian theme" because I am going to hawaii for my honeymoon...it was awesome. The table display and arrangements she put together for the food was absolutely amazing. And the food was GREAT (as always)!

.i am so thankful for moms that love me and came to spend time with me. I was truely grateful for all that came and celebrated this great time with me.

.it sure is coming fast, I knew this week would fly by between parties, wedding planning, basketball, working, etc. I am SO thrilled to see my sisters and nieces on Friday! To pick up my dress, to get my hair done... its all finally starting to settle in (scarry).

.even with all the hetic things of the world, and going on around me. I seemed to not be able to sleep in this morning... (which i SO had planned). Then i realized that with all the excitement going on, its hard to realize one of my best friends isnt here to celebrate it with me. Tomorrow will mark 3 years since Chels has passed away. I still remember that morning and the tears that was shed that day and for MANY MANY weeks following. However, she always cheered for Andrew and I to be together, so I know her and Emma are celebrating and having a party of their own. i sure miss her.