I was tagged to post my top favorite 10 pictures...this will be a bit hard for me but I'll do it! :o) And Bethany, Treva, Becca Laing, Sherri, and Debbie Brough you are tagged!!!
My favorite pictures are my favorites because of what they signify more then how artistic and beautiful they are. This one really captures Angeli's birth for me. This was actually a good time sitting there watching her and chatting with the nurses. I felt her sweet spirit so strong. I knew she'd be just fine and I marveled that I could have such a beautiful baby and how tiny she was. Stew was gone so much with Bridger that it was sort of a blessing that I could hang out in the nursery all day with the nurses and we could all dote on my little angel.
I think the happiest memory I have is of Bridger's birth, well, it ties with getting married. Everything went so perfect and it was such a spiritual happy exciting time. Stew and I were so proud of him. I love this picture. Stewart was beaming, and I could hardly stop giggling and smiling I was so elated!!!!
When we graduated I was on cloud nine. I had my family near me, I am passionate about BYU and I was so proud of us. I just kept thinking, "We've actually made it!!!". I walked after having two babies, and Stew had sacrificed so much so I could finish and there we were all together celebrating that we'd made it as a family. I remember when we actually walked the whole audience gasped and started to clap when they saw we had two kids. I loved seeing my two favorite boys together. There were even random strangers taking pictures of them!!!
Angeli's blessing day was right after we graduated. I am a family person and the more family I have near me the happier I will be. Here are just some of the people that came out for her big day. My Angeli was so beautiful even though she screamed all through her blessing!!! It was such a beautiful spring day and I was surrounded by so many loved ones I thought my heart would burst.
This is us on our honeymoon. We got married in the middle of a semester in February so Utah was ugly, cold, and we'd been so stressed about getting married and then we found ourselves in San Diego in warm sunshine and just us together. I think it is the only real getaway I have ever been on. It was such a magical time for us. We were so stinking happy to married and to be together.
I think naked babies are just about the cutest thing ever. I love how happy they are in this one and I love that you can see their cousin's bum in the background. We were at my parents' house and that also adds to the sentimental value of it. That trip was really meaningful for us.This is Stew's White Coat Ceremony. Okay, so this actually was a crappy day. I was really sick, stressed, late getting there by myself with two babies, the kids were having issues, I missed seeing him walk, I was homesick and tired, and wishing we had more family there to show Stew how proud they were of him and I was bawling my eyes out minutes before this was taken ...but it signifies our move to Reno, how proud I am of Stew to be in med school, how I am so glad we are at Reno's med school, how grateful I was to have Ammon and Kirsten there for us, and how I know this is exactly where we should be even though it has been rough.

This is Stewart's Baptism day. There he is surrounded by many of his uncles, grandpas, and his father. This picture almost makes me cry just thinking about it. This captures him so well. He loves and respects his family so much, it reminds me of all the family I have gained since marrying Stew and how much they mean to me, it reminds me of how righteous my husband is, of what a great line of Priesthood he comes from, and how hard my husband sincerely tries to obediently and humbly do Heavenly Father's will. Stewy you are the world to me!
This is my mom when she was 16. Isn't she so beautiful in this picture! I love my mom so much. She and my dad are my number one heroes. They have supported Stewart and I so much through the years. They have made it so we could make it through BYU, helped us buy a house, and are now making it so surviving med school is possible. I try very hard to make them proud and I love that they are always there when I need to have a little breakdown or a laugh! :o) They have always believed in me and taught me to work hard, to love everyone, to have a sense of humor about life and to hold to the Gospel. I adore them!
This is me pregnant, I am not sure if you can really tell in that first picture, but anyways I love pregnant pictures of me because it reminds me of my babies. Bringing them into this world are my greatest achievements. I never knew how happy I could be until I became a mom. I feel honored that I was blessed to have them and bring them into this world. I never loved my body or felt my 'divine nature' more then when I gave birth to my babies. They are the best things about me.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Picture Tag!
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 7:21 AM 7 comments
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Me and My Refiners Fires
This picture is us getting ready to finally celebrate our anniversary by going out to eat... but it didn't happen. :o( It started to snow so badly we had to call the babysitter and cancel..but someday we'll do it! :o)
Anyways, onto my self therapy. :o) High School was a refiners fire for me. I think it was to prepare me for marriage and mold me into the women Heavenly Father needed me to be. I wasn't afforded much time to be a kid, I never really was much of one. I was ready to be grownup and take on the world. And so Heavenly Father helped me get there as fast as I was willing to be. I never had really good friends at school; I honestly was just so much more grown up then everyone else. I always felt I was meant to be the leader and often those that are 'blazing the trail' must walk alone. So that was me in high school. My BYU years were so heavenly! Just so fun and great and wonderful. But now we are at Med School and I am beginning to think it is going to be another four years of the refiners fire. :o( Its not the med school part that makes it hard, in fact, school is probably the one thing in our lives that is going really smoothly, and of course that part is easy for me because I am not the one in school...but oh, my heart seems to always be on the verge of overload. This latest episode would be best described as "worried waiting." I feel like I did in high school. In High school the Lord was ever mindful of my heart ache but I knew it wasn't meant to be an easy time so He wasn't just going to take it all away and make it better. I remember walking down the halls at school everyday with so much pain and sadness and praying as I went along wondering why it was all so hard for me when everyone else seemed to be so happy. I remember my answer was never, "Its okay Emily. Just look on the bright side." It always was something like, "I know your pain, you are not alone." I remember one specific day that as I walked down the halls of school I was is so much pain that I didn't know if I would make it through my day with out having a nervous breakdown. I prayed for help and the answer I got was , "Emily, you do not walk these halls alone. For I will go before you on your right hand, and on your left--- Emily, you have angels walking beside you." I could not see the angels but I felt them there as real as anything I have ever felt in my life. It was a really touching spiritual experience that I obviously have not forgotten and it felt good to have Angels by my side but it wasn't suddenly all better. That was why Heavenly Father sent them, because it wasn't going to get better any time soon. I needed them to support me through my pain not out of it. I feel that is how life is going right now. The Lord is right there beside me but it is still a hard and worrisome time. That might be too deep for some people to want to read on a blog but I am deep about spiritual things and I am very open about what I am going through, so there you have it. :o)
But on a lighter note, here are our latest updates and things we are feeling really happy about. We finally have all our cars up and running again after they all decided to have some issues. Stew is doing awesome on all his tests, Bridger decided he has outgrown his pacifier which is good and I hope lasts, and Angeli is getting closer to walking but I decided it is taking her a bit longer because her feet are so stink'n small. She still wears a size 2! I think she will always be a bit petite. :o) I have been doing really good at keeping my house clean :o) and I have even been folding the laundry which is my least favorite chore of all. :o) The weather is so beautiful! I am going to get my run in today! My husband comes home early tonight! I have a baby shower and library toddler time tomorrow that I am very excited about, and we had fun at our play group today that I am sort-of starting up in our ward. Although I feel super fat right now I realized yesterday that I still fit in my pre-engagement jeans so I am obviously not really fat :o) (I know I am such a dork!). I am still very hopeful for my business. In time I think we will see clients come. I love my kids and my husband. We make each other so fulfilled and optimistic about all the exciting things in our future. It's just our refiners fire time. :o) love y'all!
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 1:44 PM 6 comments
Friday, February 22, 2008
Picture Time!
Here are our latest pictures from JC Penney's. They are Angeli's 1 year pictures and Bridger's 2 year pictures. I wasn't blown away by them but I wasn't disappointed either. I must say I think my kids are pretty darn cute even if they aren't the most magical pictures ever taken. :o) Hope you enjoy!
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 11:37 AM 6 comments
I need some thrifty advise
I am getting some things printed out for my business and I went to Kinkos, the only copy place I am really aware of, and they quoted me at $100! I am thinking that might be a bit much. :o) So I want to try somewhere cheaper but that is still really high quality (this stuff is going up in high end boutiques) . Where else can I go? I know this is probably common sense to most of you but apparently I am out of the loop when it comes to making copies. So if you can share some more thrifty options I would be very much obliged! :o)
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 8:25 AM 3 comments
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Shaun, Sue, and our Minivan are Amazing!!!
Shaun and Sue (Stewart's Aunt and Uncle on the Ras side) called awhile back to offer us their minivan. What they didn't let us know at the time was that they simply felt the Spirit tell them that we needed it. The hard part was that they still really needed it too. So with faith they gave it to us and shortly after the way opened up for them to get another car. Isn't that Amazing?!?!?!??! I can hardly believe that they would do that for us. Thank you Shaun and Sue, we will never forget your faith and kindness on our behalf (and we are really serious about camping together this summer)!!!! :o)
So this weekend we finally had good enough weather, and health to go get it. We drove up there Saturday. It was a beautiful drive even though I hate driving in the mountains- I get scared that we'll drive off the mountain side or something. :o) We got to hang out with their super fun family. My kids are having major Siera, Skyler, and puppy dog withdrawals now that we are home. We drove back on Sunday and I was so proud of myself for not having an anxiety attack driving through the mountain highway by myself. I swear the older I get the more I hate driving. Anyways, now we are the very grateful and excited owners of a minivan! I had no idea how we'd ever have enough money to get a car to fit our family as it is sure to grow, but now we find ourselves with one of the most gracious gifts of our lives. We are also excited that we will get to give our little truck to my sister who really needs a new car as their second car was stolen awhile back. Isn't it great how the Lord is looking out for all of us and how willing our loved ones are to give and follow the Lord?!?!? So, like I always seem to say, I don't know how we'd make it without all of you looking out for us! And Yeah for me being a MiniVan Mom! I've got to admit I feel a little more grown up driving it around town - like now I am not just a mom but rather a MOM MOM. :o)
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 5:28 PM 8 comments
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Four Years Ago...
Four years ago today Stewart picked me up from my sister's house and took me to the LA temple to be married. A couple hours later we were officially Mr. and Mrs. Rasmussen. Yep, we were married on Valentine's day. Corny, I know, but we really didn't do it on Valentine's day for any other reason other then it was the only time it worked with our class schedule. We really are just that romantic. :o) Anyways, Here is my story of how I snagged my man...
A couple months before I graduated from high school I got a letter telling me I had gotten into BYU however, it had its limitations. It told me in order to secure my spot I had to start classes in the summer. This was not a happy thing for me. I cried and cried about it because I was planning a European vacation. I was going to kick-it with my sister in Germany and tour all the must sees. In my 'despair' :o) I knelt by my bed to pray. I felt the Spirit tell me I should be happy and stop feeling sorry for myself. I was told that "greater happiness then I yet had known awaited me at BYU". So a light switch flipped in my mind and I put my European vacation on the back burner. I figured it couldn't be that bad if I was going to discover great new levels of happiness. :o) Plus, once I realized I was the only one in my class to get into BYU over all the straight "A"ers I concluded that I should just be grateful they even considered me. My sweet and very maternal sister took me under her wing and coached me on how to thrive at BYU - I don't know what I would do without my sisters! One night she helped me register for classes and suggested that I take social dance because it'd be a good way to meet people. Thinking that sounded good I registered for social dance and little did I know that four hours away my future hubby's mom recommended that he take social dance so he'd meet new people too. Two very pivotal decisions, Eh?!?!?!? I can tell you there was no way I would be meeting him in my history 320 or in his Chem 400.
The day after I graduated I loaded up my car and drove to BYU. I hate to admit it but I don't remember the first time I saw my HUNCKY MAN or even our first dance. But I remember this encounter perfectly....two or three weeks into class I walked into dance tired and sweaty after running across campus and plopped myself down randomly next to Stewart. As if out of nowhere, I started talking. I felt like I had no control of what I was saying. I honestly don't think I even realized who I was talking to. People who know me well know I have a really bad memory especially with names but I just started drooping names and places about his Larsen family reunion. I could only guess that we had talked about it during last weeks class before the 4th of July break. Stewart was as shocked as I was that I had remembered our conversation with such detail. The bell then rang and so he asked me to dance. That was it; I was smitten. We were laughing and giggling so much we kept stepping on each others toes. I remember thinking I had to compose myself and stop being so overly happy and flirty. Before our next class together I was so excited to see him. Honestly I took two hours getting ready, I must have tried on fifty different outfits. And it was a good thing I put so much effort into it because he was staring at me the whole class. I think I was a fluorescent shade of red by the time class was over - - - we were starting to learn the cha cha, very sexy stuff! :o) Sure enough by the end of the week he had asked me out ( Yep, my cha cha moves are that good!).
Our first date was a group date with his mission buddies, it was a picnic and then a movie. He did card tricks and for some reason, it must have been the Spirit helping us out, I thought he was so cool doing those tricks, he scored major points with them. I don't think he has done a single one since! :o) Anyways, we stayed out talking until 3am - freaking out Ammon and Kirsten, sorry guys. After that we saw each other just about everyday. However, after one week of dating I decided I was going to break things off. I thought I was too young to be with a RM and I didn't want to miss the fun single life. I walked up to the temple grounds to pray about it. I told Heavenly Father that I was going to stop things from progressing so if Stewart was 'The One' he should let me know before I ended it. And just like that I was told he was 'The One'. I sure had it easy huh?!?!??! Before we even had our first kiss I knew I was going to marry him. So crazy!
Needless to say we were picking out our wedding colors after only two/three weeks of dating. :o) Seven months later we were married. I don't think we really understood how good we were for each other until we were married. Everyday we marveled at how happy we made each other.
And now looking back over our four years I can tell you life has brought us challenges but honestly the Lord held good to his word, I found greater joy and happiness then I ever thought imaginable when I found my Stew. Thanks Babe!
Here are some answers to some questions I was tagged about on Kirsten's blog that didn't quite make it in my story...
1.) Where was the first time you kissed your man? By the Big tree outside of Hinckley Hall. After we kissed I came back into the dorms and I told my dormates that I had kissed him, They asked how it was and I just smiled and said "I'll I can say is that I could kiss that for eternity!" - - of course that was followed by squeals, cheers, and me blushing. :O)
2.) How did he ask you out? I could tell he was going to ask me out - he really could not stop starring at me! So I hung around after class getting like fifty sips of water trying to give him a chance to get over to me. When he asked for my number I didn't have it memorized yet - - again a very Emily thing. He thought I might be shafting him as I said "Well, I'll just get yours. I can't remember mine". Looking back I realize that did sound bad. :o)
3.) Have you ever broken the law with this person? I plead the fifth! JK, not that I know of. :o)
4.) Do you get along with any of the ex's of your partner? I have only met two of them, and there were a lot! :o) One is my beautiful sister-in-law and another one is starting med school with her husband here at Reno next year. I am thinking it'd be fun to hang out with our new med-ies. So yep, I like all the ones I've met. Stew has always had good taste! He married me didn't he?!?!?!?! :o)
5.) What’s the most expensive thing he has given you? My engagement ring and I guess our house too. Not that we really own it- - - we've still got a lot to go on that one!
6). What is one thing he does that gets on your nerves? Not responding when I ask him a question. It usually happens when the TV is on or he's got LOTR going!
7.) What is the thing you do that gets on his nerves? Probably when I get mad at him when I am interrupting his TV time and LOTR time. :o)
8.) Where do you see each other in 15 years from now? Realistically.... hopefully having a few doctors paychecks under our belts (if Stew dose pediatric surgery we'll still have 12 1/2 years of school!), a couple more kids.... I think we'll have five all together, hopefully a house, me a little heavier, Stew a little more bald, I'll be driving kids everywhere, Stew will be saving kids' lives in surgery, almost debt free (house and school- I hope), and still very much in love.
Stewy, thanks for being mine. It has been the best four years of my life. I really think the world of you. Love, Your EmsPosted by Emily Rasmussen at 2:01 PM 7 comments
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
So I Was Tagged- What's For Dinner?
Okay, this tag was started so that people would share what they have had for dinner in their own homes recently so that we can all get some new ideas for what we can make for dinner. I can tell you that the same old stuff can get pretty boring after awhile. So here is what we have eaten for dinner the last week and what I am planning on cooking this week. I am surprised I actually remembered most of what we ate last week! :o)
Monday: No idea I can't remember
Tuesday: Homemade Chimigangas
Wednesday: Hawaiian Haystacks
Thursday: Breaded Parmesan Dijon chicken with rice pilaf
Friday: Lemon Dill chicken with pasta
Saturday: Left overs
Sunday: Egg noddles topped with a smoked sausage cream sauce and salad
Monday: Four cheese Hamburgers
Tuesday: Pineapple Chicken Bake with rice and salad
Wednesday: Mustard Cream sauce over grilled chicken with rolls and green beans
Thursday: Crepes with Basil chicken cheese stuffing- strawberry ones for desert :o)
Friday:Chicken Parmesan with pasta and salad
Saturday: Going out to eat for our anniversary and Valentines Day!!!!
Sunday: Beef Stew and salad
If anybody wants a recipe just haller - some of these I am trying for the first time so who knows if they will be any good. And if you want to get in on the sharing go for it!
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 12:24 PM 8 comments
Saturday, February 9, 2008
What a Week!
This week has been really good. Mom Rasmussen flew up on Wednesday to watch the kids so I could drive over every inch of Reno trying to pitch my product to doggy stores, doctor's offices, baby boutiques, and day cares. We are so grateful she made the sacrifice to help us out. I got more done in three days then I could have gotten done in two months. It really was the miracle I was looking for.
Overall this week has been a mixture of really great highs and some sad lows- a true emotional roller coaster. The few lows were caused by the fact that the kids and Stew were really quite sick for most of the week with a really bad cold, and also because not everyone cared to give me their time of day. This is so hard for me because I invested so much into all that I am doing with my business so when they shut me down I tend to take it personally. But the highs came; spending quality time with mom Ras, knowing my sick babies were in better care then I could probably give, and after hours of 'pounding the pavement' despite how discouraged I might have felt I'd find positive, kind people who were willing to build a relationship with my business. I also have really formulated some new ideas for how to sell my product to people. I am feeling excited and eager to try them out. I am going to try out renting a booth at a fair - preferably a mother's day themed one, start putting ads in the local kid directory -even though it is pretty pricey, and start trying to have boutiques sell gift certificates for me and setting appointments for me that I would do in their stores. These ideas might not work out but it is exciting to think that at lest one of them will open a new avenue for my business to expand in. And last night I actually got a call to set up an appointment!!! So exciting... it's been awhile! So I still have a lot of work ahead of me but I feel excited to get to it and that I really can get it done.
There are two other things that I have loved that I want to ramble on about.
First, forget what that stupid groundhog said....
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 4:18 PM 8 comments
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Reasons Why Today Rocks!
Despite my kids being sick, my not having much sleep, not showering in two days, and the laundry is sitting in various piles around my house this is why today is still ROCKING!!!!
-Angeli is the cutest dancer- I love seeing her start dancing when I play music, so cute.
- Someone once invented Tylenol- if it were up to me they would win a noble peace price for bringing peace to homes across the world!
- Bridger climbed into bed with me this morning put his blanket over me, put his arm around my neck and gave me a kiss while he snuggled into me. He's always been so affectionate, I love it!
- Stewart cleaned my carpets and couch for me last night!!! What a MAN! my couch has never looked better.
- I am excited to hear how super Tuesday goes :o)
- We are having company for dinner and I am making chimichangas - so yummy!
- Mom Ras is coming tomorrow!
- It is very sunny!!! - I can feel Spring is a coming :o)
- Just now Bridger smiled and Angeli laughed for the first time today.
And I was afraid today wouldn't give me much to Rock out to!
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 10:05 AM 3 comments
Monday, February 4, 2008
We Have More Sick Babies :o(
We are being hit by some nasty cough, fever, booger factory bug. Stew and I are fine but the kids seem pretty knocked out. Bridger has been in that same position for three hours now. We have been through half our home videos, Nemo, Sleeping Beauty... Poor little guy! Angeli seems to not be as out of it as our Bridger. I am just hoping they are better before their Grandma Ras gets into town. We wanted her to have fun while she was here and not have to be a nurse! We are crossing our fingers!
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 3:54 PM 1 comments
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Not More...
So I am writing simply because I needed to and perhaps one of you out there will benefit from reading it too. I am so grateful that I have so many of you rooting and caring for me and my little family. I don't know how we'd make it without you. Love you guys!
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 9:19 PM 3 comments
Friday, February 1, 2008
I'm One of Those People
I am one of those people that isn't really great at anything. I don't think there is anything I do that most all people couldn't surpass if they tried. And during my adolescent years when you are so defined by what you are good at this was hard for me. I took singing lessons - a flop, I took art lessons- no talent there!, I took piano for 5/6 years- I cant even play primary songs, I have never gotten straight "A"s- never!!!!, I love to write but can hardly spell, I love to run but go about 10 minute miles on a good day,.... and I could go on. However, at this point in my life I have come to realize that this isn't what matters. When my life is over I don't want people to say, "Man, that girl could paint", or "Wow, She was the best singer." but rather I'd like others to simply say I made the world a better place.
Many use their talents like painting and singing to make the world better, and that is great for them, but that is not how it is for me. I think at times its my lack of talents that brightens the world! :o) I always joke that my mission in life is to make others feel good about themselves when they realize it could be worse...they could be like me. A little Eeyore-ish I know, but never the less it is true. :o) Whitney (my sweet sister-in-law) can attest to my ability to make anyone feel like they could go to the Olympics after playing sports with me, or that they could join MOTAB after overhearing me sing in church. I really am fine with that because I realize the Lord only requires of me to do my best no matter how meager that might be and somehow despite myself I can bring about some good. I find this way of thinking rather liberating and reassuring.
The World tries to tell you that you have to be the smartest, the richest, the most beautiful, have the smartest kids, be the most involved in humanitarian work.... and many of the things you can put 'most' in front of are good, but our happiness is thwarted when me are tricked into thinking we have to be the 'most' and 'best'. If only we all realized that those of us with the lest talents can still do profound things with our lives. Its who we are that makes the difference and not what "bests" we have. Christ might have been the best at wood working but He was not remembered for his wood work, but rather how He changed and saved the world.
My mom, knowing me very well, sent me a little handout she had gotten in Relief Society. It simply said "You are doing the best you can, and that is good enough!" I hung it on our fridge for years. Basically everything I do in my life will be humbling and at the very lest human, but I hope that when it is all said and done people will think I made their little world a little brighter with the Lord's help.
All the people I adore and love I do because they are simply them and true to that. My dad is my hero not because he saved lives as a surgeon but rather because he was always humble and kind, I love my husband not because he gets 'A's but because he gives me his heart, I love my kids not because they are in the whatever % but because they are mine. And none of these people would have to show me their talents and abilities but rather just be them and I will be better from it.
So next time you and I feel inadequate, humble, and less then 'most' or 'best' remember in the end that really has nothing to do with what makes you able to brighten the world. In fact you are probably brightening the world whether you like it or not. :o)
Posted by Emily Rasmussen at 12:45 PM 2 comments

