Welcome to God's Country

This past week a gentleman and I were discussing the difference in weather between Tennessee and Idaho. I explained to him how the winters in Idaho are almost unbearable (in my opinion). I explained in detail the long, cold, dark months of winter in Idaho. He then shook his head and raised his arms high in the air and said, "Welcome to God's country!" I had to laugh! From what I hear, Tennessee has about two months of rain and then spring arrives. If this is the case, I would have to agree with this man...I am in God's country!

The past two weeks have been somewhat eventful. Jason started preschool two days a week at the Beaver Ridge Methodist church. He loves his teacher and made a friend on the first day, Chloe. When he first told me about Chloe he said that she was cute and had blonde/brownish hair. He then told me that they played house together during playtime. So cute!! When I picked him up from preschool this past week, I asked him what he did in school that day and he responded, "Mom, Chloe does not like to play Legos. Can you believe that? She wouldn't play Legos with me because she doesn't like them!"

Here are some pics of Jason's first day.

Hailey and I were both sad when we dropped Jason off at preschool. We walked out of the building and I felt like something was missing. I instantly started to cry! It makes me so sad that time goes so quickly and that Jason is growing up so fast.

Last weekend we went to Five Guys Burger and Fries for a fix for Kim and a treat for the rest of us. We were pleasantly surprised to see that our old neighbors kindly supplied us with the fries that day! We then had to give a shout out to Idaho. We made a sign and stuck it on the Five Guys board! Oh how we miss real Idaho potatoes!!

It has been rather warm here the past week so we have filled our week with trips to the pool. Jason is getting more brave and is content being on his own in the water, with a floating device on of course. Hailey loves the pool as well and wants to jump in like her big brother. She loves watching Jason run and jump in the pool. Either that or she loves the big splash it makes.

On Friday, we went to the Knoxville Discovery Center. Jason and Hailey had a blast. It was not huge center but had lots of cool things to touch, explore and learn about. A model spaceship seemed to be the highlight of the whole trip for the kids. They kept going back to it over and over. The center also had a planetarium where we were able to see a presentation. We had a great time and would love to go back.

A serious Capt. Jason

I love watching this girl explore! She is at such a fun age.

The model spaceship. Kim wants to turn Jason's bedroom into one of these and I am not sure who would have more fun, Kim or Jason.

The Asst. Captain

Hailey playing with the train set at the Discovery Center.

My handsome 4-year-old!

Sweet home...Tennessee

We are finally settled in Tennessee! I unpacked my last box this week and have officially hung decor on my walls! I still have lots of organizing to do but at least we are unpacked! We absolutely LOVE the south and are so grateful for the opportunity to live here. Things I have learned so far:
- Southern hospitality is one of the greatest things that has ever entered my life
- Jason does NOT like to be hot and "sticky" (this is what he refers to when it is hot and humid)
- Humidity is lovely! I really do like it...strange I know!
- Public preschool tuition in TN is ridiculously expensive.

We feel right at home here in TN and I would love to spend the rest of my life here, unfortunately that will not happen. But I am living in the moment and embracing my time here!

I really don't have many pictures to share because I am a slacker (something I WILL improve upon). Here are a few I have taken over the course of last five weeks.

This is an awesome park we found in Farragut. It has a bike/walking path all the way around it. It is absolutely beautiful. Jason didn't make it far because he was hot and "sticky"!

Kim copying Jason's usual face and Jason not so happy about it.

Hailey's 1st birthday. We took her to breakfast at a yummy restaurant where she had french toast and bananas.

We have done more swimming in the past five weeks than we have in the past two years! This is Kim and Jason at the hotel.

This one is for Aunt Jan. Jason at the Knoxville zoo, which is amazing. They have over 800 animals. We were there most the day and only saw 1/4 of the animals.

Jason at the pier downtown Knoxville after a delicious dinner at Calhoun's.

Jason feeding the ducks at the pier.

Patiently waiting (okay so only some of us were) outside Calhoun's for the rest of our party to arrive.

After a DELICIOUS dinner at Calhoun's. This is Kim's sister Trudy and her husband Brett and their kids Ryan and Bryce. They currently live in Fredrick, MD and came to TN for a campus tour at U of T. We had a great time with them.

We celebrated Kim's 31st birthday this past week. Jason helped me make the cake, frost it, and put the candles on it. He was so proud of his creation.


Kim and Jason blowing the candles out.

Please stay tuned for more info and pictures. I will try to keep this updated as much as I can. Jason starts preschool this week so hopefully I will have a little more time on my hands for things like this! Take care ya'll!!

Spring Time

Oh how we have enjoyed the sunny and warmer days here in Idaho. We have spent the past two weeks outside playing, more like Jason playing and I raking and bagging leaves, cleaning out flower beds, sweeping and re-sweeping the patio. Nonetheless, we have both welcomed the warmer weather and the fresh air. Here are some pictures of Jason playing in his "dirt box" and riding his new Jeep that he received for Christmas.


With us spending so much time outside lately, our dog Sadie has become practically another child. She is with us practically everywhere we go. Inside and out. She was recently groomed and so I haven't mind letting her inside. Jason and Sadie have a special relationship and Kim and I often comment what a patient dog she is with Jason. He lays on her, crawls on her, pulls her around, etc. She just takes the heat and loves him regardless.

On Saturday, Kim and I hit a couple garage sales and found some killer deals. I have been looking for Jason a bed frame for a year now and could not bring myself to pay the money for the frame when Kim and I don't even have one. However, on Saturday I found a perfect fit. A never been used headboard/foot board with frame and nightstand for $50!! Jason was so happy to get it home and set it up. He loves his new bed and yesterday I walked in his room during quite time to find this...

Jason had covered Sadie with a blanket and was reading her a book. Both of them were perfectly content and I just let them be!!

As most of you know, sorry to those of you who do not, I am expecting again and I found an AMAZING deal on diapers last week. I decided that I should probably stock up and that I did!!

I bought 25 packages of diapers and 4 packages of wipes for $3.50 a piece!! I just love the thrill of a deal!

Be a Real Man Dad

Jason was playing tonight and informed Kim and I that he was going home teaching and would be back. Kim asked who he was visiting and he responded, "Elmo and Zoe." He proceeded to climb on his bike and then said to his dad, "Dad, do you want to come with me?" Kim was late in responding and as Jason was riding out of the room, looked back at his dad and said, "Come on Dad. Be a real man and come home teaching with me!"

On Friday, Jason and I ran to Idaho Falls to sign some forms for our taxes, after which we went to ShopKo to grab a baby shower gift. Jason is big enough now (sadly) that he doesn't like riding in the shopping cart, so he trails shortly behind me on foot. We parked the car, went into ShopKo and headed to the back of the store where the baby department is located. It didn't take Jason long to find a display stroller to push around. So there we were, mom trying to find a baby gift and Jason weaving in and out of display racks. I stopped at one rack to grab a closer look at an outfit when to my surprise there was a beautiful little girl with big brown eyes starring at me. I tried to carry on a conversation with her and in return on got a deeper stare. I commented to the mother how beautiful her daughter was and turned around to move farther down the isle and noticed that my son was not there. I thought he was close by, so as I continued hunting through the rack I said, "Jason, you need to come over here." I heard nothing in return. A couple seconds later I moved closer to the main isle and repeated, "Jason where are you?" Nothing again. So I walked over where the strollers were parked thinking he would be exchanging the current stroller for a different one (so typical of Jason) but no Jason. This time I yelled, "Jason?" Nothing. My heart started to beat and my mind began racing. I quickly walked to the toy isle and yelled for him again. I heard nothing back so I walked up the main toy isle looking down every isle and still no Jason. I really began to panic now and was beginning to think of every mother's worse nightmare. One more time I ran over to the baby department and yelled for him and there was no response. I really thought someone had taken him at this point. So I began running to the front of the store thinking maybe I could catch whoever had taken my child. I ran through the shoe department, men's department, boy's department, and through the purse department and to my surprise, relief and dismay there was Jason pushing a baby stroller with a purse over his shoulder. "Jason!!!" I yelled. "What are you doing?" As I am about to pass out from my heart jumping out of my chest, he responds, "Look at this cute purse Mom!!" He must have saw the terror in my eyes as I squatted down to his eye level because his face dropped as I started to explain to him that I thought someone had taken him and that he was gone. His response was, "Mom, I am sorry I left you. I just wanted to get a purse." "Where were you going to go after you got the purse?" I asked. "To find you," he said.

I was sick to my stomach for about an hour after this incident. Many questions arose and we had the stranger danger talk. Jason continued to apologize for his behavior and so innocently explained that he just want to carry a purse around. Now that the incident is over and all is well I find myself laughing that my three-year-old son wanted to carry a purse so bad that he left his mom at the back of ShopKo and set out on his own to find the perfect bag. Kim is officially worried about Jason and the escalated level of his purse obsession. I must say, the kid sure does have a eye for a cute bag!!

December in Review

Where has the time gone? November and December flew by and Christmas came and went. Jason and I spent two weeks in November visiting my friend Kasey who had a set of twins. We had a great time. The weather was divine and it was a good break from the day to day routine, although we were both ready to come home and get back to the routine. When we got home Kim had bought Jason a small white Christmas tree and he LOVED it! In fact when people asked Jason what he wanted for Christmas he would say, "A Christmas tree"!

December was filled with parties, graduation, family, friends, and more parties. Kim and I attended two ugly sweater parties. Although, I am ashamed to say that we only dressed up for one of them. I was a little unprepared for the first party and I ran out of time and energy so we went as our normal selves, which shocked many because usually we are the ones promoting costumes.

Here are a few pics from our ugly sweater party that we did dress up for.








December 19th Kim graduated from BYU-Idaho. It was an amazing spiritual and emotional experience. Elder Richard G. Scott spoke at both the commencement and the convocation. What a great opportunity it was to hear from him twice!! I am proud of Kim!! It has been a long, rough, and sometimes emotional ride but he stuck it out and made it through!! It is no small task to attend college, work part-time to full-time, raise a family, serve in the church, take time for hobbies, house projects, care for the yard and garden, etc. meanwhile maintaining sanity and not wanting to throw in the towel.

I am grateful for the challenge of attending school and raising a family. It has a had a great impact upon Jason. Even though he may not comprehend the full scale of the importance of education, he does understand that education is something we should all do.









Christmas day was crazy and fun. Jason enjoyed unwrapping his gifts. He didn't really understand the Santa Claus concept, which is fine with us. All in due time!! We got a camcorder for Christmas so I used that instead of taking pics with my point and shoot. So we will end with these pics. So cute!!

Halloween 2009

Kim and I had a Halloween party Friday night with some friends. We had a great time! We ate yummy food, had our fortunes read, shared lots of laughs, and completed a scavenger hunt. Thanks to all you who came!! Here are some photos from our night.