How I Became a Willis Pt.3

I was about to regret everything until...

We went to lunch at Olive Garden!

... I know, you had no idea 

what Soup & Salad can do for love, huh?!

Okay, it wasn't the Soup & Salad...

but that didn't hurt!

At Olive Garden, Royce turned to me and said...

"You don't need to be nervous... 

I'm really glad you came!"

I loosened up and was finally 

able to have a good time. 

At lunch he did the cutest thing

that we still do today when we are on dates... 

He would open and shut one of his eyes, 

alternating each eye saying

"Camera one, Camera Two, 

Camera One, Camera Two" 

I was a silly fool in love and that it was hilarious..

and I still do!  

The next day we were off to Puerto Rico

We had a blast together. 

We had talked so much we pretty much

knew everything about each other... 

so once we met and found out we were 

both telling the truth... and we had chemistry....

it was easy to fall head over heals 

IN LOVE! 

The picture above is the first picture we ever took together!

When we got back from Puerto Rico

I was supposed to go home...

But the decision we made changed

the course of my life forever!

Find out what happened in Pt. 4

How I Became a Willis Pt.2

I still remember the night before I met Royce...

I stayed over at my friend Jill's house until super late

and by the time I got home I was too nervous to sleep....

so I didn't! 

My mom drove me to the airport

and I flew into Utah. 

Royce told me he was going to 

pick me up on the curb....

I hated the idea of him driving up

and being able to get a glimpse of me

before I got a glimpse of him!

I was waiting awhile....

honestly, I thought he might have drove away! 

Then I got a phone call...

He said he decided to park and 

walk to come get me! 

So we chatted for a little bit... 

then it happened! 

He  said... "I can see you!"

I instantly hid behind a wall....

It freaked me out that he could see

me and I couldn't see him!

Then we gave each other a hug 

and walked to the car. 

He was taking me to visit

Temple Square....

The next hour would be the most awkward

hour of my entire life!

I thought I had made a HUGE mistake!

All I wanted to do was CRY!

Until....

Come back for Pt. 3

How I Became a Willis Pt. 1

8 Years Ago in March of 2005 my 

crazy husband found me online. 

Most of my friends know that we met online, 

but in this blog post 

I'm going to officially come out.....

We didn't meet on a mutually 

interested religious website 

called LDS LinkUp... 

We met on.... 

Are you ready for this?

Hot or Not

YUP!!!

... Dreams do come true! 

So he thought I was hot, I thought he was hot and 

the rest is history, right?? 

Not exactly. So, we started chatting online... all the time!

Then we started chatting on the phone... all the time!

He was 27. I was 19!

He was in a business that traveled around 

doing personal development seminars so he 

invited me to come to one with him....

to Puerto Rico!!!

You can imagine my surprise when I 

realized that this man I had been chatting with

for four months was asking me to come with him 

on a trip to Puerto Rico that was happening in 

about 2 weeks time....

I look back at our situation and 

I feel insane! 

The person I am NOW would have never 

jetted off with a "stranger" to a "foreign land"....

But, luckily for me I was a different person back then... 

full of adventure! 

Somehow I talked my parents into to letting me go....

My mom agreed only after she called and 

talked to Royce's bishop

and he assured her he was a stand up guy. 

Then I had to tell my friends how I had

been chatting with a guy on the internet

and begged them all for money 

so I could meet him...

I'm sure they all thought I was INSANE

and gave me money only so I'd leave!

Then I was on my way!

What happened next? 

Come back for Part 2 to find out....

Utter Failure.

So, is it March already?!?!? Yikes!

I'm so sorry!

I know I left you all hanging on the Elf on the Shelf. I promise I finished it- here is the story:

We went to the beach for a week and I didn't bring my camera chord so I couldn't update the blog for a week. When I got home it was a few days before Christmas and crazy. Then Christmas past and I kept promising to do it. Then it was January and I figured no one cared about the elf anymore..... then I just felt shameful. But.... I'M BACK! And, I promise to update you in a blog post about what happened with our crazy elf. Why? I know it's not Christmas but everyone enjoys learning about the craziness that is the Elf on the Shelf and some of his best work came after the blog curtains were shut! So, I will do it! But this will take a little bit as I am in the middle of my finals with school, but in the next two weeks before a new term starts up I promise to update you on the Elf on the Shelf!

Other topics on my agenda will be to tell you the story of our family... because it is one big great story and Everybody Loves Willis so of course you want to hear about it! Topics will include: Why the internet is a great place to meet your love, why 8 year age gap is not a big deal (even at 19 and 27), why getting married 5 months after you meet is insane and not recommended unless you are sick-in-love, how our Tiny Willis was days away from being thrown out into the street when Mommy Willis heard about her and saved her, why infertility sucks, why adoption is amazing, why adoption is horrible, why it takes so friggin' long, and how you can get a child placed in your home within two weeks of learning of him without being in the adoption process (hint: be the Willis family), and what the adoption process is like when you do it backwards! These topics as well as others explain the Willis bunch so much and I hope you enjoy getting to know us! If not, then I will have a really great journal for my kids one day- either way, I get to have fun!

XOXO
-Mommy Willis

Elf on the Shelf: Day 18

Buddy was very thoughtful today... 

He must have known that Mommy Willis

kinda... sorta.... caught a little bit of Grant's cold....

(and I mean kinda sorta because I've been 

downing On Guard Essential Oil like crazy so 

my throat isn't quite that scratchy.... and my

nose isn't all that stuffy.... my head hurts like 

I'm getting a cold but my body is fighting 

back with the help of essential oils)

He knew that Daddy Willis would be gone all day

and that Mommy Willis didn't feel up to doing much....

... so he planned a movie day for Mommy and Grant! 

He got himself all snug-as-a-bug in his stocking and

got the remotes out.... 

Grant said "Silly Elf, a Stocking isn't a blanket"

He left us out some treats and a not so subtle nudge

that he wants to have a Toy Story marathon! 

Even Santa. Jr and Kanga were ready to watch a movie....

Grant thought the whole thing was so funny...

he started doing his laugh where he falls back and

kicks his legs up, laughing like a jolly Santa Claus....

.... wish I could give you a video of it because it is hilarious! 

Elf on the Shelf: Day 17

This morning Mommy Willis woke up to find that

Buddy had a little fun on her desk last night.... 

He made a rope out of the stale Twislers and went 

Bungee Jumping....  

He put a bunch of post it notes with jokes and sayings for

Grant like "You're Awesome" 

Unfortently, when Grant woke up he threw a

huge temper tantrum when he was getting dressed....

By the time we finally got done getting him dressed, 

he discovered that Buddy didn't like all the yelling and had left.... 

But, lucky for him.. 

Buddy didn't go very far!

As soon as Grant started acting nicer.... 

Buddy came back!

After Lunch, he discovered Buddy had moved to his desk....

Buddy must have known Mommy Willis wanted

access to her computer! 

When I turned my computer on.... we also discovered

that our Silly Elf put his picture as my background!

What a silly, silly elf! 

Elf on the Shelf: Day 16 Adventures

Today Buddy put himself in a jar

so Grant could take him with anywhere! 

\

Grant didn't just take him anywhere.... 

... he took him everywhere! 

He played & ate with him... 

... he watched a movie with him! 

We were able to go to the Portland Raceway to

see the Winter Wonderland lights.... 

We let Grant out of his seat so he could see the lights...

He held Buddy up so he could look at the lights, too!

Then we had him come up front so he and Buddy

could get a better look! 

Grant had a great time with his Buddy!

At the end of the day he gave Buddy a hug 

and was off to bed....

Wonder what that Silly Elf will be up to next....