What a year its been

January: Babe went bald to support Marshall, family time, winter in Rexburg.

February: My family went skiing for the first time, Valentines day. 

March: Hunt family pictures before Karl left on his mission, date nights, work trips to Boise.

April:  Moved to the Hunts and remolded their bathroom, cut my hair short for the first time in a long time, I learned how to ride a motorcycle.

May: Brielle turned 21, shopping with the sisters, birthday month.

 June: Family vacation to Powder Mt. resort, jet skiing, beach, being Ma and Pa for our stakes trek.

July: Vacation, vacation, vacation!! From Mt. Rushmore to Oregon and everywhere in between.

August: Surprise trip to St. George for our 1 year anniversary, Drew and Ashley had their baby Abbi, I enjoyed babysitting her whenever I could!

September: Craven Vacation to "Craven Cove"  aka Hunt's farm, horseback riding, shooting, motorcycle/4 wheeling, getting our new Indian names, enjoying the fall and going to Rodeos! 

October: Started our "sweets fast", carving pumpkins, being a "lead" in preschool, and Babe working hard to finish all his Chemistry classes.

November:  We voted!  Enjoyed Thanksgiving at the Cravens, played games, ate ate ate, traveled from family to family. 

 December: Christmas, temple trips, getting my new camera, going back and forth to both families, being spoiled and enjoying our time together. 

 We have seen so many miracles and blessing this year.  We look forward to the year to come and the challenges and fun times we get to have, who knows maybe we can even add someone to our little family! :) 

If you want to see what we did last year click HERE

Karl

Karl sent some pictures in his e-mail today and I thought I should post them on here for all of your enjoyment!  He has lost so much weight already, our new years goal is to loose more then him!  He is doing such great things we are so proud of him!  

 Merry Christmas!

 If you didn't really know what he looked like before just look at his suit coat... its HUGE on him! Way to go Karl! 

Christmas Break

So I have totally been slacking, time just goes by to fast!  Instead of going back in time and sharing everything we did I am going to play catch up with pictures. Our break was filled with family, games, friends, laughter, nativities, decorations, movies, presents, and our Savior. 

 

Babe spoiled me rotten this year (when doesn't he?)  I don't really know how he did it but he pulled off getting me a Nikon D5100 camera.  I have always wanted one and we were saving up since we got married to get one.  We spent Christmas Eve/ morning with my in-law, that was my first time away from home and I'm not going to lie it was not easy for me.  Not that I don't love my in laws it's just different/ new. Babe made it easy for me and we had fun Christmas caroling with the family and having mom's amazing potato soup.  We woke up early, opened presents, ate, and headed to Utah for Christmas with my family. We finished opening presents  when babe brought out a huge box and handed it to me.  There it was the dream in a box (to cheesy? haha) Babe just knows me all to well.  I didn't even know what to say I was so shocked.  Once again babe over does it and makes me the happiest person alive.  I don't know what I would do without him, I was spoiled before I got the camera but that was just the cherry on top!  Now I just have to learn how to use it ;)  So be prepared for some picture overloads :)  

Lead Week

This week was the start of my lead teaching week in preschool.  Wed. is my 2-teacher day (only 2 teachers in the room the whole day) sound easy enough right? Wrong.  When your students are used to 6-8 teachers in the room at a time, when you go down to only 2 teachers things get CRAZY!  I am so nervous for how it will turn out... It's going to be a long week.  All prayers are welcome :) But on the plus side after this week I don't have to teach anymore! Yahooo I'll just have to go to preschool and hang out with the children, now that's easy!  I love my major and am so thankful everyday to be working with young kids they inspire me so much and I really do try to follow their examples  cute story.  For the sake of privacy I will be naming the children in my story child 1 and child 2 (original right?) For some background: So today I had the marble works out (ramps that they can build for the marbles and stuff) Child 1 has a tendency to take things without asking or hitting other children when they don't get their way... previously in past times child 1 has hit child 2.  

Child 2:  I don't want to play with him (pointing to child 1) because he hit me.
Me: I don't think he meant to hit you though
Child 2: ya he did! And he didn't say sorry!
Me: I bet he meant to say sorry, I am so sorry that happened to you!

Child 1 then goes up to child 2 to take away some of his marbles

Me: remember child 1 you have to ask before you just take things because child 2 is playing with those right now.
Child 1:  Can you share with me? (to child 2)
Child 2: (Places his arm around the shoulder of child 1 and pulls him in close)  softly says:  Yes, but only if you promise to NEVER hit me again.
Child 1: I promise!

It was so simple (and maybe confusing for you...) but how quick they are to fogive and befrind someone that has hurt them before just amazes me.  The played for a long time after that like they were best friends.  Child 2 remember what had happened to him but as soon as he talked it over with Child 1 then they were fine and he remembered it no more.  

Another cute example from a friend in another lab:

For dramatic play during preschool, we had a stage set up with microphones and dress up clothes for performing. One child in the class was about to perform, and then he says, "Wait! We have to say a prayer before we start." He then proceeds to call a child up on stage to say an opening prayer, and he whispered exactly what should be said in the prayer. 

See what I mean.  I am blessed everyday to do what I do!  I love my major and I love working with these little children!

Thankful For

Day 4
Today I am thankful for day light savings and for the chance to get an extra hour of sleep!!

Thoughts for Sunday

(Click on the link below to see the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tl3AN-moMY&feature=related

So today while in Sunday School the teacher was talking about not knowing everything on this earth but how we will get the big picture and know all things later.  She gave this example that I really liked and connected well with so I thought I would share.  Just like in the Little Mermaid when Arial is with all of her treasures and she is combing her hair with a "dingle hopper" which was really a fork.  We are just like her in some cases and don't really know the real meaning or purpose of things we might use or think we know.  What a cool thought it is to know that one day we will know the meaning of all things.  But until then I just encourage you to try to understand the things we already have here on their earth.

Thankful For

Day 3:
Today I got the chance to ride down to Utah with Matt while he was driving for work 3 reasons why I did:
1. I got to spend the whole day with husband (even if I did sleep most the way)
2. I got to spend a few hours with my family after he dropped me off.
3. It was motivation for me to get a lot of my preschool lesson done!

That being said I am thankful for the many hours I spend with babe, and for the few hours I spent with my family.  Living far away from family is really hard for me so I loved being there even if it was only for 3 hours!   We went to Rumbi Grill and got our entire meal paid for just by taking in 2 cans of food- now that's a deal!!

Thankful For

Day 2:
Today I am thankful for my laminating machine. Simple I know but it was the best present. I seriously use it everyday!

Thankful For

Day 1: Today I am thankful that my lead semester is almost up! I just turned in my last lesson plan to be graded for the semester, I can finally breath again (until I actually have to teach them...) at least they are done!  Phew!

Thoughts for Sunday

Just a kindly reminder to judge not!

Thoughts for Sunday

 "The Lord is in the details of our lives"  I challenge you to follow President Monson and look for the blessings you have now in your lives instead of what you don't have. I am going to start doing this myself and take President Ucdorfs advice "it’s not a race; it’s a journey. Enjoy the moment.” and stop trying to be so busy but spend my time more wisely. Copy the link below to view a clip of each of those talks!

http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/consider-the-blessings?lang=eng President Monson
http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/unto-all-the-world/consider-the-blessings?lang=eng President Ucdorf

Life...

You know sometimes life just has a way of kicking you in the butt.  Right when I'm getting on top again BAM!  Sometimes I wish I lived close to family, something about being around them makes everything not seem so bad.  But until that lucky day when we do live close Ill just have to cuddle up close to husband get a good movie and pop a bag of popcorn.  Looks like that's what were doing tonight!

Throwback Thursday

Taking it back old school with this beauty!  

Throwback Thurdsay

Because of conference this past week I thought I would share this picture:

We used to all get together and go to conference with our huge group of friends, and now with everyone in different states its kind of hard.  Melissa still came down for conference though and we had a blast with her!  I love conference and the many traditions that come with it!

School

Ugh. School

Yup that sums it up!  School is crazy busy and I feel like I don't have a second to spare.  All I want to do is work on the fun things in preschool but unfortunately lesson plans are taking over my life.  On the plus side we are almost done talking about apples! whoot whoot!  Which reminds me if you have any ideas on what I could do on "senses"  I have to teach a whole week on it (sight, smell, touch, taste, etc) I would love your input if you have any! Thanks
.  

Thoughts for Sunday

Why conference matters.  I am so excited to listen to our prophets speak next week.  I hope you are all preparing to listen, coming with questions in your hearts.  I promise you that if you prepare before time and listen during it you will receive answers to your prayers.  What a blessing it is to have living prophets on earth today.  I loved this video and hope you do too!

http://www.lds.org/church/events/members-and-friends-of-the-church-invited-to-participate-in-october-2012-general-conference?lang=eng

(copy and paste this link into another internet tab to watch the short movie)

Blogging...

So I have come to the conclusion the blogging is really confusing and difficult!  I want to be a good, cute, fun blogger but I can't figure it out.. Ugh! Frustrating.  Anyone wanna do my blog for me?  There is so much I want to do but only so much I know how or understand how to do. Well if your interested let me know! :)  But until then I'll just have to live with it the way it is!

Throwback Thursday

Remember these old days?  This was when I had a huge crush on Matt, and Matt wasn't even thinking about dating anyone ever. We headed to Washington for our roommates wedding (how am I so lucky to have the same best friends ever since my freshmen year? and that they are also Matt's best friends?) Matt and Brians roommate Travis, married our roommate Lindsay.  Its crazy to think of this and where we are now!

Lindsay and Travis are expecting a baby in March.
Ashley and Drew just had their first cute little Abbigail.
Emily is on a mission in Philadelphia.
The other Ashley is on a mission in Tennessee.
Brian is going to school in Africa.
And Matt and I are married (which in these pictures I had no idea would happen!)

Isn't crazy how life turns out?  I am grateful for my friends and for my wonderful husband!

Thoughts for Sunday

While talking with husband today, feeling overwhelmed and stressed about different things going on in our lives he reminded me of this simple message:

"Doubt is the opposite of Faith"

I guess I always knew that but it just hit me hard it reminded me of when Elder Bednar (I believe it was him...)  said

"Faith is not just a feeling, It's a decision"

My mom made a plaque for me that says that and I think it is such a good reminder everyday that we have to choose to have faith.  So this week instead of being stressed and overwhelmed with life's situations I am going to choose to have faith and pray to our Savior everyday that he can give me patience and understanding I need.

Side note:  Today we went to the BYU-I Center with all of the married student wards in Rexburg to rearrange boundaries and get a new stake (which we are in now!).  Elder Zwick and Elder Web from the 70 were there,  I wished you would of all been there it was such a powerful meeting that I even found myself crying during it without even knowing!  It just confirmed that these are men called of God.  What a blessing it is to have prophets on the earth today that we get to hear from regularly (Yay for conference in 2 weeks!) It's amazing that they know just what to say to you before you knew you needed to hear it, if that make since.  It's just a reminder that you need to be where you are supposed to be always or you might miss out on tender mercies that the Lord has in store for you or is preparing you to have.  Well we hope you all had a good Sunday!  Remember to choose faith!

Throwback Thursday

 

I love looking back and seeing where we came from and where we are now!  I'm so in love with this boy! 

Back to the dating years! 

"We're Flexible"

"You just need to be flexible"  That's all they keep telling us but let me tell you its not that easy to "be flexible" when you have 3 pre plans, 2 lesson plans, and supposed to meet with your team for the 3rd lesson plan all due tomorrow.  Sorry its not going to happen.  They changed around all of our lesson plans and schedule in preschool, so what do I do?  I start to learn it, I'm flexible with all the changing.  But when you change it all again for the 2nd time after I already learned the new changed plan (make since?)  its a little hard to be so flexible.  Seriously I already have sooo much work to do without the extra stress that I am doing it all wrong and am going to have to re learn a whole new system...  Ugh.  Its not so easy having 3 different teachers to answer to with 3 different teaching styles.  Hopefully by my supervisor semester everything will be set in stone and I will already have it all down.  That's my wish I guess we will see if it ever comes true.  Until then thanks for the venting session!  Wish me luck this semesters going to be a loooong hard one!

Thoughts for Sunday

I just want to second this and remind us all to slow down a little and enjoy the time we do have together!  I'm grateful for Sundays and the chance to do this.  Don't let you week be crowed with things that don't really matter, but remember the small things that matter most.  Like a simple text that says "I love you!" or a much needed hug, or a phone call from a parent.  I am grateful for all of the little things in my life!  I am thankful for a hard working husband though I never get to see him I am grateful for the time that we can share together!  I am thankful for Sundays, that they are a break from the world.

Rodeo

 We went on a family outing to the Salt Lake Fair grounds on Saturday, The highlight of the night was the rodeo, even thought the people watching, giant corn dogs, and roasted almonds came in a close second!

 proud to be an American! :) 

School!

School starts for us tomorrow and we are soo excited! I have a time consuming work load but none of it is like Matt's classes so I am not going to complain to much. I am so excited to be going to school with Matt he has been working ever since we got married and mostly worked the semester we started dating so I never really got the chance to walk around campus holding hands, taking each other to class, eating lunch etc together.  It sounds really stupid as I write that down but its the truth, I was always so jealous that everyone had someone around with them and even though we were married I felt like the 3rd wheel but now that Matt wont be driving to SLC everyday we will have a lot more time together!
I can't remember if  I told you that we are both working for the SLC Express cleaning buses at night.  Matt got offered the job and his boss said that I could also work there, its a bummer to be at night but it will be fun to spend all our nights with each other!  Oh and Matt also just got a job with Madison School District as a backup school bus driver, they pay pretty good and it fits in between some of his random classes.  We were getting nervous about how we were going to make it all work this semester but this is just a small example of how much our Savior loves us and knows our needs.  Prayers work!  Well wish us luck, here's to another fun semester!!

whoop whoop!!

So Matt and I finally moved back to Rexburg yesterday!  There was not a inch to spare in our car but we fit everything else in (we had taken a few trips up earlier in the month to drop off the bigger things). Matt had to go to work early this morning but he did help me hang up some of the things on our walls that needed two people!  And as of right now we are officially moved in and by that I mean all my decorations are up, the house is all cleaned (even the the outside siding), and I still have time to spare!  GO ME!!  We love our new place it is sooo much bigger than our last place and so far the neighbors are really nice and have helped up move in every time we bring a load,  I think we are going to like it here! The only thing left to do is figure out why our dryer isn't working... I know it went out AGAIN! ugh!  But my mans a fix it man and he can fix it I just know he can so until then don't judge me if you happen to see me wearing the same thing the next day ;). Sorry once again I don't have any pictures but Ill post some as soon as I can. Or lets be honest want to... hahah I have to figure out a way to put them on our computer and stuff and so I just need to find the desire to do so! But until then good luck to all of you moving in, if you need help you will find me on my couch in my PJS watching my netfilix... well that is until school starts next week! Don't judge. :)

Just some thoughts...

So school starts on the 10th and we couldn't be more excited!  Matt changed his major to Exercise Physiology, and eventually chiropractics.  When he switched his major (it was computer engineering) he said "looks like we have to exercise now since it is in my major after all..."  Which to be honest I am quite happy about.  The exercising part and the part where he is now so excited to go to school and do something he loves! We have been moving into our new apartment in Rexburg slowly, but still have our bed here in Inkom so until we take that up to Rexburg it looks like we will be here.  I am sooo ready to be back in Rexburg, I will miss all of the family time but I am ready to have babe all to myself again, and to get on a regular schedule.  And the fact that I love my classes helps a ton too...  This next semester is going to be probably one of the busiest one I will ever have but it's so worth it! I will be done in April, for now (that's 2 more semesters baby, 1 including this one!) I am excited to find a real job and support babe for a while, since he has always supported me!

Life has been pretty crazy of late. My mother n law is ready to demolish her kitchen and start on her new pantry and new kitchen.  While Dave (my father n law) was away for work us girls got to work and knocked out a few walls to get ready  for the new HUGE pantry, Dave is now scared to leave for anymore work trips in fear that when he returns another part of the house will be missing... haha no promises ;) The new pantry is almost done, which has helped our lack of space in the kitchen immensely! In between the demolition we have been watching my 2 nieces for the last 3 days... they are sure a hand full but so fun!  I am Bella's favorite, she follows me around all day!  I was even taught how make baby blankets this week!  Margret is the bomb at quilts (she made us a HUGE quilt for our wedding, with the Bountiful temple embroiderer on it!) I would say I picked it up pretty fast because after we set up the first quilt it was done within a few hours, and then I did the second one all by myself :)  I realized I have a hard time giving up cute baby things... haha and I'm not even pregnant.  But they are just soooo cute!!  Anyway I might have to make a quilt for Ashley (her little baby girl can come whenever....!!) Who would have thought after all these years I could do something craftyish :)

Welp.  That was random but I have some time to spare while I am waiting for Matt to get home! :)  Till next time!

1 year down!

When Matt and I were first married we decided that every year we would switch off between Valentines day and our anniversary.  I had Valentines day this year so Matt had our anniversary and I can say he out did him self!  Its going to be a tough one to top! I knew we were going away for it but that was all I knew!  About halfway into our drive I finally figured it out, we were headed to St. George!!  We finally made it to our hotel and can I just say it was sooooo cool!!

I loved these lamps! They were so fun!

Isn't that just awesome! I want this to be our bedroom!!

We opened the drawer and this was in it! :) it made me happy!

After we got all settled into our place we went out to eat at our favorite restaurant Olive Garden :) and then off to see Aladdin at Tuacahn!  We are going to make this a yearly thing!  I have been the last 3 years and we just love it!!  We wanted to go and see hairspray as well but Matt had to get back to work. :( Bummer.

Matt got sick the morning we left but he was such a good sport and suffered though the night so that I could still see Aladdin, he was glad he did too, he loved it! 

They even have a portion of the show in 3D- sooo sweet!

Here's to the best year of my life so far, everyday it only gets better with you by my side! I can't wait for the rest of our lives together.  You make me a better person!  I love love love you!!