A Lot of Change

Our life has changed quite a bit the last month or so. For a while now Josh has wanted to go back to school for a Masters Degree. He has wanted to do this since we got married, but we didn't feel right about it. The thought kept popping up from time to time, but again with thought and prayer it just wasn't right. Well, the time has come where it does feel right, and Josh is actually already in a Masters program. Josh did some searching and again after a lot of thought and prayer we came to the decision that he was going to do an online Masters program through Gonzaga University. This decision was made the middle of April, he took the MAT test on May 2nd (which he did awesome on), turned in his application and resume, got accepted to the school a week later, and started school on May 16th. When we got married Josh was done with school, so this whole going to school thing is new to me, but I am excited for Josh and support him 100%. I know it will be a busy few years with him working and going to school full time, but it will be worth it in the end. The good thing about doing an online program is I have family and friends here to keep Drake and Me company while Josh is studying.

In the midst of all that crazy school stuff, we decided we should look at some homes/town homes to buy that were in our price range. We looked a year ago and found some that we liked, but again didn't feel right about it.... well right after we looked Josh got called to be in the Bishopric and that confirmed why nothing was feeling right. So, we have stayed here a year longer and have loved every minute of it. But now the time is right! We met with a Realtor and he showed us a town home in Smithfield that we have had our eyes on for a year but didn't think we would be able to afford it. It has just been built and is a beautiful little place. The second Josh and I walked in we both thought....This is our home! They told us the price and it was right in our price range. The builders are going to pay for our HOA fees while Josh is in school, so that knocks $55 dollars off of our payment. We walked away and later that night the Realtor was at our house and we were making an offer. We should be closing this week and moving in this weekend. We are thrilled to be moving out to Smithfield. We are moving to a town home with way more space that we have now for the same amount we are paying in rent. The best part about this place is it is a short walk away from the Neils, which means we will be in their ward (I hope they are as excited as we are). Also, Josh's sister Robin and her family live just up the road! We are very excited to be residents of Smithfield City!

We feel really blessed right now! When we moved in the apartment that we are in now, we felt that we would only be there a few short months and then we would be moving on to bigger and better things! We felt bad for ourselves that we had to be in this little place, and leave our house and ward in Nibley. Well, little did we know we have been the happiest we have ever been living here and have met some life long friends in this ward. I will definitely be sad when we move out of this place. We have learned a lot by living here. We have been surrounded by some of the greatest people we know who have taught us things that we might not have learned had we moved shortly after moving here. I am grateful for all that I have and excited for our next step!

After moving we are going on a family vacation with my family, so it might be a few weeks before I post again. Hopefully when we get back it will be summer in Cache Valley!

Drake's 18 Month Old Pictures

Drake,

You are such a special boy! You make me smile and laugh every day. I am so lucky I get to play with you everyday. You wake up with a smile on your face and go to bed with a smile on your face. Your daddy, grandparents, aunts, uncle, cousins and friends all love you so much. You bring so much joy to your dad and me! Every night before I go to bed, I go into your room and pick you up and cuddle with you for a few minutes while you stay fast asleep. It is my favorite part of the whole day! You have such a funny personality. Below are some things about you.

• You talk to yourself and to me all day.
• You blabber and then say "yes" or "no"
• You love to watch Dora and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• You will eat anything I put in front of you
• You talk really well and repeat everything
• You know where every part of your face is and then some.
• You dance anytime you hear music
• You know how to jump (but don't get off the ground)
• You can count to 2 in English and Spanish
• You SCREAM when I change your diaper (my least favorite part of the day)
• You also scream when we brush your teeth
• You love baths given by Daddy
• You love to drink water and ask for it all day
• You love to read books
• You can get out of your highchair, so we have to tie you in with one of dad's old ties
• You grab your ears all of the time...(nothing is wrong with them, you just like to hold them)
• You are good at putting your binky in your crib and leaving it there when you wake up
• You give everyone "loves"
• You are very stubborn and love to do things on your own
• You call any type of food a cookie
• You love to play outside
• You love your blankie
• You just started nursery and hated it your first day
• You like to wave to dad at church up on the stand
• You have started to laugh at your burps and farts
• Every morning when you wake up you throw Simon out of your crib so I hear it when it hits the floor. It lets me know you are awake
• Occasionally I can get you to say "I love you"
• You put up with me kissing your cheeks all day long

I took you to get your pictures taken from a girl in our ward. You were pretty good for us, but you were more interested with all of the toys she had than sitting and taking pictures (what kid wouldn't be?)

Mommy made your bow tie for you. I think you look so handsome!

After we were done with pictures I took you outside to play and snapped some pictures myself. You were pretty burnt out of pictures at this point and only let me get a few.

Always remember how much I love you Drake. You are my first born, and will always have a special place in my heart. Love you buddy!

Love, Mommy

Easter Sunday

I love Easter Sunday! I enjoyed all of the talks and lessons in church about the resurrection of Christ. I was able to teach Young Women that day, which made for a great Sunday as I spiritually prepared for my lesson. I am so grateful for the atonement in my life, and for everything that Christ did for each and everyone of us.

After church we went to my Aunt and Uncle's house for dinner and an easter egg hunt. Drake loved getting the eggs just to see what was inside of them. I am pretty sure he consumed over a pound of jelly beans that day.

Boston with his basket of eggs.

I love my siblings!

I love my husband too!

Elli and Hannah

Drake found his basket from the Easter Bunny....

...and Josh found his too. If you have a hollow chocolate egg, why not put milk in it?? He is weird!

Watching TV In The Nude

We love him!

An Accident At Angie's

We went to Angie's for dinner a couple weeks ago. A couple days leading up to that night, Drake had an upset tummy and was going through a lot of diapers. Well he had a bad accident right when we sat down to eat. So, he ate dinner in his diaper and looked cute while he did it!

St. George for Lauren's Spring Break

My Mom, Lauren, Drake and I headed south to St. George for my sister Lauren's spring break. We stopped on the way down and shopped at the Gateway, and ate at the "Dodo" (That place is so good). We stayed at the Wood's condo and got there late Wednesday night. Drake was so good in the car.

Drake and Mommy in the car on the way down.

Thursday my Great Aunt Millie and her son Fredrick came over from Mesquite to see us. Drake loved Fredrick. They watched Dora together while the girls got ready. I love this picture of them!

Drake and Grandma Lisa. He slept so good while we were down there. There is a room in the Condo that is really dark. We put him in there and he went to bed every night between 9 and 10 and woke up every day at noon. It was AWESOME!

Lauren, Fredrick and Ashley. He was so excited to see us, and we were excited to see him. Last month we went to Vegas with the Neils and we stopped in Mesquite to see Millie and Fredrick. So this time in St. George he kept asking were Hayley was and how she was doing. He had a little crush on her. (Sorry John)

We ate lunch at 25 Main. It was delicious! They had awesome sandwiches, soup and cupcakes.

We did some shopping on Thursday and ate dinner at the Pizza Factory. Their bread twists are so good!

Friday we all woke up at noon. It rained the whole time we were there, so there wasn't a whole lot to do. Because the sun decided not to show, Lauren and I went tanning and then stopped and got Croshaw's Pot Pies. My mom and I headed to Lazy Daisy Quilt shop (so fun), while Drake watched Dora and Mickey Mouse with Lauren.

Friday evening Lauren, Drake and I went to Target to do more shopping. Drake hates shopping and usually tries to get out of the cart, wants to walk and get into everything. I stopped at the little food place in Target and got him a snack and he was awesome the whole time.... oh yeah and I let him suck on his binky!

That night we went to Pancho and Lefty's for Dinner. Friday night my mom and I stayed up sewing pretty late. We were able to get some projects done! Saturday we hit up some more quilt shops and did some more sewing and shopping and of course stopped at Nielsen's! It was such a fun trip. We did a whole lot of nothing, but that is what was so fun about it. Drake was great in the car on the way home. He watched Dora for 4 hours straight. We pulled into Logan and Lauren said, "I HATE Dora and Boots!" I told her it was better than listening to Drake cry.

Helping Great Grandpa in the Yard

Grandpa's are very special people in they eyes of their grandkids. I have a great relationship with my grandpa, we are very close. My parents had many opportunities to move away from Logan, giving my Dad the opportunity to have a way better job. But they chose to stay in Logan so we could be close to family. I am so grateful for that decision because I have such a wonderful relationship with my grandparents. They have taught me so much, and have been my number one fans through everything I have done, and still do. I go over to their house almost every day! I enjoy visiting with them and learning things from them. There are some things that only your grandparents can teach you. I also am grateful that Drake gets to spend time with his Great Grandparents! He loves them and loves going to their house.

Drake helping Grandpa Haslam in the yard.