Slacker

I have been such a slacker at posting updates that when I realized it had been forever since my last post, that I have been avoiding making new posts, making it even longer since my last post.  Not to mention things have been so crazy this past year, that I have barely had any time to do anything.  So much has happened though, that I figured I had to post and update everyone on what has happened.  I will start with the simpler more fun things.  For our anniversary we went to Seattle and then on to Canada to my families summer house.  While in Seattle we got to see the Yankees play!  It was a blast and I really wanted to see them again this year, but circumstances have prevented us (which I will explain further down).  We also got to eat lunch in the Space Needle!

Yankees vs the Mariners

Lunch in the Space Needle

On the beach in front of my families home

During this last spring we were able to take a trip with Randall's family to Jackson Hole Wyoming.  We were also able to go there the previous spring, and loved it so much that we had to go back this year.  This time though, we were able to stay in a REALLY nice condo!

Since then, we have both been super busy with work and school.  Oh, and we found out we were PREGNANT!!!  We were so excited and it has definitely kept us busy between all the doctors visits, and my multiple hospital stays during pregnancy.  But the best part of it all, was that on July 1st our baby girl was born, our beautiful Evelynn Noel.  She was 7lbs 5oz and 21 1/2in long.  I know I am biased but I swear she is the most beautiful baby girl I have ever seen.  

Isn't she beautiful?

Job Hunt...

So things have been a little stressful lately. Randall started school a couple weeks ago, and I have just been sitting around trying to find a job. It has been really hard trying to find one, especially with so many people looking. It makes it a little harder for me too because with my degrees, some places are required to pay me more, which definitely does not help when there are so many others trying to find a job that they can pay less. I was starting to get really nervous because it had already been almost three weeks with no luck of finding a job. I was starting to look at jobs in Idaho Falls, which would have been quite a commute.

Finally on Friday.... I got a job! I am especially lucky because it is exactly what I wanted. I am going to be an ESL aide at the elementary school that Randall went to as a child, and I start tomorrow! I am so excited that I going to be working with kids. It is truly a blessing to get the job you want in the career path that you want.

Christmas in our new apartment!!!

We finally got our own apartment! We moved to Rexburg just a couple days after I graduated. It took us almost a week getting settled in. It surprised us how much stuff we had, we eventually had to get rid of some stuff and kept just our favorites, our apartment is VERY small. I am so glad that we were able to spend our first Christmas in our own place. We were even able to get a real tree, although it took up almost our whole living room. It was so pretty though! I love Christmas, I wish we could have kept the decorations up a little longer. Because we did not move in until the 22^nd, we only got about a week of decorations. But a week is better than nothing. We have decided that next year, we are going to put up our decorations really early!

Out apartment! and stuff...

our amazing tree :)

our seating... (we had no couch yet..)

Christmas play....

This Christmas season has been eventful to say the least. Randall and I were called to put on the ward Christmas party in my homeward. Randall designed the program and I got to design the costumes and do decorations. It was interesting experience, but so much fun at the same time. It did not go as planned but still turned out wonderful. It seemed a really big hit with the parents and all those who watched...

some of the costumes...

GRADUATION!!!

So the day finally came, I have officially... GRADUATED! I now have a Bachelors of Science in Psychology, and an Associates of Science in Elementary Education.

The day of graduation was an amazing day, although, it was an early one. Graduation started at ten in the morning and lasted hours... I was really surprised by how many people graduated off track.

I was super lucky to have all my immediate family make it to my graduation, not to mention Randall's parents were able drive over as well. I am so grateful that I have an amazing family that supports me and has helped me through all these years. It was a struggle and there were some tough times, but it was also some of the best years of my life.

Randall's parents...

My amazing grandparents!

All my wonderful sisters...

My mom and dad...

My other mom and dad...

My diploma... YAY!!!

My mom and I :)

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we spent it with my family in Boise, and then the next day we drove up to Saint Anthony to visit his family. Thanksgiving was pretty relaxing, as relaxing as Thanksgiving can be, hahaha. We ate so much delicious food over those few days, I do not think we have anything as good since! It was really a blessing though, to be able to see both of our families over those few days. This time of year, when you get to see almost all your family, get to catch up on what has been happening and laughing with everyone, really makes you appreciate what a blessing this time of year is…

My grandma and my two uncles

Fall...

This fall season was interesting for us, lots of new experiences.  While living in Boise, so I could finish up my schooling, we lived with my grandparents.  We decided that it would be easier than trying to find an apartment for only a few months.  We did not really have the opportunity to call anything our own, but still enjoyed it none the less!  It was pretty stressful with both of us working, Randall working two jobs, and I working while going to school.  Randall was working ACHD and home health, and I was a nanny.  I absolutely loved my job!  The fall season flew by, Halloween was my favorite part.  We never got the chance to carve pumpkins, but we did get to dress up!

Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf!