Yellowstone National Park

On the 23rd of October, James, Kiely, and I set out for an adventure to Yellowstone! :) We had a lot of fun... and a lot of time in the car. (Which, who really enjoys car rides for that long?... Definitely NOT Kiely!) Kiely got kind of cranky sometimes-like when she was hungry or just sick of sitting in the car. She loves to stay busy, and sitting down for many minutes-- or hours-- at a time is not her thing. She was a trooper, though, and almost every time we got out to go see something, we let her walk. It was SO cute! Sometimes she wouldn't even let us hold her hand. She just wanted to be a big girl. When we stopped to eat lunch, there was a crow close by, so James fed it some of his bread or chips or something... crows a re pretty smart! James would play games with it, and it wouldn't go get the food until James wasn't looking. Haha. For over half of the trip, we didn't see any animals (besides an occasional buffalo, but they always seem to be everywhere, so they aren't very exciting to me. Oh, and the of crows...) Eventually we did see some Elk, and that was about it... But the scenery was beautiful, and we enjoyed being together as a family! We didn't get home till I think 11 or something, so we were all exhausted, after a long, fun day! Enjoy the pictures! :)

Happy as can be- on our way!

Climbing the stairs! (She could do this all day and never get sick of it!)

The earth IS alive, and ACTIVE!

Beautiful colors of the earth.

My sweet man and baby girl (who isn't much of a baby anymore!)

James called the ones we got here Halloween pictures, because of the steam. :)

Our Happy Little Family! (Okay, maybe Kiely doesn't look so happy-- she'd just woken up.)

First Elk we saw. She stood and posed for me! :)

?? Can't remember where this was... one of the pretty waterfalls!

A buffalo!

James was saying how he really wanted to see a Bull Elk... This is one of two that we saw, and he seemed almost tame. Just chillin' on the lawn.

Second Bull Elk with all his ladies.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone! So pretty!

Waterfall by the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Me and Kiely and Yellowstone's Grand Canyon

Tired and all pooped out and ready to be at home in bed! (Yes, this is her pooping face! Haha! We think it's HILARIOUS!!)

Sometimes I have to tell myself...

that it's okay to let Kiely help and get a little messy! Often when I'm cooking (or busy with just about anything) Kiely wants to help, or wants me to hold her or whatever.. She holds onto my legs and cries to get my attention (not that I didn't know beforehand, I just would have to ignore her sometimes so that I could get something done in a decent amount of time...) So the other day, I was making tortillas, and decided to sit her up on the counter, and let her help me stir... I'm pretty sure she loved it! I decided that it's not worth it to get upset over the dough that she got on her, or that she wanted to touch it... I just let her help! (Eventually I had to take the spoon away so that I could actually mix it, but I did take the time to let her "help.") Kiely loves to help with things, and I'm pretty sure she's thrilled when we ask her to help us with something. She likes to put the utensils in the dishwasher (and take them out, and put them in,and take them out, and put them in...) and helps me unload when it's clean, too! She is such a smart girl! :)

Concentrating on stirring!

"Hmmm... I kinda like this squishy, sticky stuff!"

Well, I don't look that great, but I thought it was cute how she's looking at the camera, and she looks proud of herself for helping mom stir!

Good thing I was helping her so she didn't have to pay attention to what she was doing!

She just NEEDED to stir by herself again! (Look at the concerned look on her face! haha)

I'm so glad that we have this sweet little angel! She is growing up TOO fast!!

Laundromat

Today, I am grateful for the laundromat. I won't say that I really like it, but am grateful for it. We haven't gotten a washer and dryer yet, so I've been going there once a week for the past little while. I really actually HATE going there. It's kind of filthy and disgusting (they don't seem to vacuum often enough) and the people that go there AND work there, are sort of freaky sometimes. BUT I was thinking today, "I'm glad I don't have to wash all of our clothes by hand, or drive to my mom's or something to do my laundry every week." (Not that I don't like going to my mom's... it's just a pain to go and do laundry at someone else's house.) I am grateful for that weird-smelling, gross, full-of-strange-people place, that allows me to get my laundry done in a couple of hours! (When we do get a washer and dryer, I'm going to have to spread the laundry out through the week, so that it's not JUST laundry day when I do laundry, I think.) Saturday is the day, hopefully-- that we will come home with a set, and then I will be grateful for that! :)

Gratitude

Yesterday during the morning session of conference, President Monson gave a wonderful talk on gratitude. I loved it. Sometimes I get stuck looking to the future, and forget the blessings I have in the here and now. It's not that I don't feel blessed and grateful to our Heavenly Father for so many things that I have in my life, I just don't stop and ponder-- count my blessings-- often enough. This got me thinking about how it feels like the only time we really are thinking a lot about the blessings we have is around Thanksgiving time. SO... My goal for now is to recognize, and try to write down (maybe blog occasionally) about at least one thing that I am grateful to our Heavenly Father for each day. (My goal is to make it to general conference in April at least.)

"Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful, if we will but pause, and contemplate our blessings." -Pres. Monson

So, with that said, today I am grateful SO MUCH for the power of the Priesthood, and that I have a worthy husband who is able to use this power in our home, and is Patriarch over us. I am glad that I feel comfortable going to James asking for a blessing for me or Kiely when I feel like we need it. It's an amazing thing, and through our faith, it can help us in our lives in so many ways. I love the power of the Priesthood, and my sweet James.

School Adventures with a Baby

I haven't blogged (for real) in a long time. I am finally deciding to catch you all up on what's gone on in our lives for the past... year... I don't know that I'll do it all in one post, but I'll do what I can in this one. Here goes...

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.

Congraduation, James!

I just wanted to congratulate my best James for GRADUATING with his bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering! He is my smart guy, and has worked hard for this! His graduation was really neat, and special. Elder Scott spoke, and he even came to James' convocation, since he was a ME graduate himself. James had the privilege to receive his diploma from Elder Scott, and it was really neat! I know that it feels nice for him to be done with that phase in life, and we both look forward to what the future holds! I'm so proud of you, James! :) We love you!

James & His Parents

James & I


James & Kiely

Our Family

Kiely had a long day, too...

Tricks/Inventions by James! :)

So I've been meaning to post this for a little while, and with it being Christmas break, I finally have some time to do it! James has come up with some inventions for Kiely to try to make his life more simple... The first thing he did, was a little trick to keep her binky in her mouth... it first happened quite a while ago, but I didn't capture my findings the first time when I got home. He had talked about doing it before, but I wasn't sure if he really would... but, here's the story: One day, I got home from class, and on the couch, I found a pacifier and a headband... hmmm... I just kinda ignored it for a while, and I think he eventually told me about it. I had figured that that's what had happened. It didn't work very well that time. (I actually tried it later, and it kinda worked...)


Another day, I came home, and James had one end of our broom sitting on the side of the swing, and the other on a little tote that we have, with Kiely's monkey hanging on it... SHE LOVED IT! It was in her face and she could play and grab at it. This is when I finally decided to take pictures of his inventions. I said, "Guess what, I have something more to blog about now! I just have to take pictures of this..." He told me to wait while he went to get the binky and the headband... I did, and she sat and looked at me and was happy while I took photos of her... I love the adventures we have together as a family, and I'm glad that James is creative and has fun with Kiely, too! :)