Around this time last year (sorry, I don't remember the exact date... probably the weekend after labor day.) James & I moved from my grandparent's house back up to Rexburg. We decided to move back to University Courtyard mostly because it was close to campus... and pretty cheap. The apartments there are small, but we somehow managed to live there for 11 months with the three of us. (Believe me. By the time it was over, I was definitely ready for something bigger.) School started on a Thursday, I think September 10th. I was excited, but oh so nervous, too. Kiely was only 3 weeks old, and I was going to be taking 12.5 credits, and still trying to figure out babysitters. I am still grateful for DaNae (my little sister) to be willing to
watch her on her very first day of college. YIKES! I think it was tough for all of us. Kiely cried a lot, I'm not sure if Nae did, but I remember picking Kiely up from DaNae's apartment and bawling on the way home... We decided that it would be best for us and DaNae if she didn't have to consistently watch Kiely every week that semester. (She did that later, and actually LOVED it!)
As the semester went on, things got better. James' mom, Ruth, was so helpful and came up every Tuesday to watch Kiely. I appreciated this so much, and don't think I could ever repay her. (She did enjoy it... it's just that whole time thing... She even changed her schedule during winter or summer so that she'd hopefully be able to help out some, I don't know if she got that opportunity much.) Anyways... My mom was also a great helper for us when she could be-- even with her busy schedule of school and being a mom. We also were able to have the help of my brother and his wife, and many ward members-- I am so grateful for all of them, because I know that I couldn't have gotten through without them.
Fall was James' last semester, as well. He did great! :) I think he got his best (or at least some of his best) grades. We made it through that semester, and James graduated. (I blogged about that before.) It was so neat, and helped me look forward to my own graduation and be determined to get there. Here is a picture I took of James in his cap and gown. (I got other ones, too, but yeah....) I love it!
Kiely had her first Christmas, too. It was a blast! I'm kind of looking forward to this year a lot, because she will LOVE it and actually know more what's going on. We enjoyed Christmas break with family, James applied for jobs, and I started getting a little nervous about the next semester when James wouldn't be there as much to help...
James & I made a ginger bread house... it fell over pretty fast!
Kiely LOVED laying under the tree, playing with the branches and looking at the lights!
About a week after the winter semester started, James started working at Spudnik in Blackfoot. Hooray! Well, partly. We felt blessed that he was able to get a job quickly, but weren't really looking forward to the long drives he'd have and how much we'd be paying in gas. (110 miles/day. UGH!...) James started enjoying the morning drives by pondering, and listening to books on tape. There were some long days, and I missed being with him so much, but I got used to it. I found people in the ward (with the help of the relief society presidency) to help watch Kiely. James sister Katie helped out lots, too, as well as Jordi & Jules also watched her until they had their baby. Jon & Cynthia Schneider (a couple in the ward) were great to us, and LOVED watching Kiely each week (they watched her during summer semester, too). They'd tell us that seeing her was the highlight of their week. One time when I picked her up I got home, changed her diaper after a while, and found new socks on her feet... I looked in the diaper bag, and found a whole package they had gotten for her! I thought it was so sweet. I got through that semester... Even though there were times that were tough, and I even took Kiely to class once or twice... I think it was one of my best semesters for my GPA! CRAZY! (13 credits + baby, and a husband gone from at least 7am-6pm) I was happy, and know that the Lord was helping me through.
Between winter and summer, little DaNae got married to Kevin Barnard. (Kevin & I graduated together.) We are so glad that they found each other, and love having Kevin as a brother-in-law. Nae was one of the babysitters for the summer, and this time LOVED it! She helped me out so much, and we've become close. We miss being down the street from them and being able to hang out. (Of course we still hang out... it's just not the same, of course.)
Okay, back to the school stuff... Summer semester was beautiful. I'd never been on campus much during the summer, but loved seeing the flowers in the trees bloom, the flowers starting to pop out of the ground, lots of green leaves on the trees, people studying anywhere they can find a patch of grass, etc. (It was a wet summer, but I still enjoyed being able to be in Rexburg during that time... I finally admitted to James recently that I miss it, and could probably live there.) During this last semester of mine, I took a portrait photography class. We also tried to have some fun, too. Here are some photos from the class: (*Note-- all images are MINE-- please do not copy!)
Chalea- My baby sister and "mini-me." (James says he sees me in her, and kind of feels like he's watching me grow up in some ways!)
Jules-I think she's been playing the violin pretty much her whole life!
Tara, Allie, Audrey- My cute little sister-in-laws! (Three of 'em-I don't think Katie was home)
Shae-We did this shoot as a class-- and Shae just happened to be in our ward, too!
Serene- A classmate. I loved this image of her. I wish I was as good at posing as she was for me!
And here are some fun memories we made this past year:
Kiely was blessed in October by James-- my mom made her beautiful
dress, and used the leftover fabric from my wedding dress! :)
James taught Kiely how to play the computer-- excel, Mathematica, etc...
We fit Kiely into James' lunchbox! :)
James & I would go photographing different things when the light looked pretty cool.
Going to the Nature Park to feed the ducks & play!
I made it through the semester... All three semesters. Kiely was great for babysitters, which was great, because I was able to focus on school when I needed to without stressing too much about her. There were times that were wonderful, and times that I just wanted to quit. There was no way I could, and I knew that. A couple weeks ago, my diploma came in the mail. When I read it, I was almost sad, because I ended that chapter in my life, and now I'm starting a new one. I love being home with Kiely. Even though in a way I miss being so busy, it's worth it. I love teaching Kiely. She can fold her arms for prayer (and does it other times, too) and blow kisses-- and I KNOW that I taught her that. :) She also says "uh-oh!" and "wow!" She is so fun to watch grow, learn, and play, and looking back on my school experience that happened during her first year of life, I wouldn't change it. We chose to follow His plan for us, and I know that our Heavenly Father has blessed us and helped us through. When I think about it, I can't believe how many blessings and miracles came to us during that time, and know that He continues to bless everyone who chooses to follow His plan.
