March, April, May

The last three months have been crazy. Three months ago we were getting ready for summer sales in Salt Lake City. Since then we've found out we are expecting our first child and changed our minds a million times about life from staying in Logan, transferring to UW, buying a house, and so on. Since we'll only be here three more years, we aren't buying a house but are on the look out for a new apartment in the fall or when our contract ends in January.

Luke is now a full time supervisor at Icon. He loves being back in the office instead of at home. He's still the dish guy, laundry guy and cooks most of our meals since I've been pregnant. He's a lifesaver! Luke is in the Young Men's, working with the priests (16-18 year olds). He teaches some Sundays, has scouts each Tuesday and is planning this summer's scout camp. He changed his major from History education to Computer Sciences, specifically Software Development. If you are reading this and have a connection with this field, please share your knowledge. He's super excited to start math and science again after 5 years ;). He just got a new handgun for an early Father's day and had a lot of fun shooting it at his grandpa's farm.

 

I now work full time (most weeks) at the Logan Aquatic Center, part time for the Special Education Office at USU, and still have two home based businesses; Yoli and Kylee Ann Photography. I'm taking a full 12 credit summer load, as well, so I can graduate a year early in Family and Consumer sciences. I'm always tired and sometimes sick, but working really hard before the baby comes. I'm one of the Girls Camp directors and a Young Women's advisor for our ward. It's been fun working with and teaching the young women and planning camp! To say life is busy would be a HUGE understatement. ;)

Here's a brief re-cap of the highlights of March, April and May:

1. We found out that I was pregnant!  Best and craziest news of our lives!

2. We went home for Spring Break. We had a fun week of playing basketball, rollerblading at Skateland, shopping, eating Sushi and mom's delicious meals, visiting UW campus and going to see Wicked in Portland. It's always a good time visiting my family!

3. We celebrated our first anniversary in Seaside, OR. It was a very fun get-away. It was stormy the whole time and we didn't get to the beach, but we were too excited to hold in our secret about being pregnant to stay two nights.

4. We told my family that they were going to be aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas. Phewf... finally we were able to talk to someone about it! 

5. I completed my gray corduroy pants and white blazer projects in sewing class.

6. I've shot lots of weddings, bridals, families, newborns, etc.

7. Luke and I went on a date to see the Hunger Games. I read all three books in the next three days. They were the first full books I've read since high school. It was fun to read again! I've read the Secret Journal of Brett Colton and Breaking Beautiful since then, which were also two amazing books!!

  

8. Top two moments of the last three months were probably seeing our little baby in the ultrasound for the first time and hearing the heartbeat for the first time. Very tender moments. 4 more weeks and we will know if it's a she or a he.

9. We went camping with our best friend; Kade, Jacki, Nick and date. We didn't stay the night because we both had pictures and work the next day, but it was fun making hobo dinners and hanging out around the campfire.
10. I went home during dead week to help watch my siblings while my parents were in Cancun. I got to see my best friend, Brianna Marie, and have a Teriyaki date for the first time in months. I got to hang out with my amazing siblings and grandparents. Best of all I got to have Koibitos TWICE.

11. We had our Out of State Recruitment Team closing banquet.

12. We both survived finals week.
13. My cousin, Stephanie, got married so my grandparents and momma came in to town. We had a lot of fun having them here for the weekend.

 

14. Even though we didn't end of buying a house, we went house hunting, which was a ton of fun!! We had a great real estate agent, Ethan Poppleton. I almost bought a house just so he could get some commission.

15. We went camping with Luke's family. It's always a good time riding the Rhino, motorcycles, shootin and sleeping in a warm trailer.
16. Luke's brother graduated from high school in Page, Arizona. We went on a short trip to celebrate with him. Now, he is here in Logan for the last time before basic training in July.

Easter Fun

This Easter we had lots of fun! Chase got to spend the night on Friday night. On Saturday morning, we woke up and met Kellie, Mahal and Honey at Smith's for the Easter Egg Hunt then to the mall for some shopping.

Kellie, Aunt Kylee, and Mahal

 Mahal isn't really a fan of the Easter Bunny when she has to be so close...

Uncle Luke teaches her the bes

 On Sunday, we had a picnic with Honey, Lisa, Flint, Tracy, Tina, Kellie, Adrian, Mahal, Chase, Kayla and Tanner. Here are some pictures of the families for Honey...

Tracy, Tina and Tanner

Flint, Lisa and Chase

Kellie, Mahal and Kayla

Adrian, Kellie and Mahal

Luke teachin Mahal how to play baseball

 Then, we went to Old Main Hill, where everyone throws easter eggs down the hill. It is the weirdest tradition, but the kids loved it. The seagulls come and eat all the leftover eggs.

Chase getting ready to throw his eggs.

She cracked the egg on her dad's head...

Mahal watching her egg roll down the hill...

The Big Announcement

So at least 207 of you know the big news...

Now for the Frequently Asked Questions ;)

When are you due?

November 6, 2012 <3 

How far along are you? (if you didn't do the math above)

I'm 9 weeks today. I was going to wait to tell all you Facebook-ers in 3 or more weeks, BUT I told the rest of my family on Sunday and by Monday morning I was already worried there was no one left to tell... They know how to spread the news!! I'm relieved everyone knows so I can PIN openly on Pinterest :)

Do you want a boy or a girl?

Luke really wants a boy. I want my little girls to have a big brother, but I want a little girl to spoil with little girl things like bows, dress, shoes... I haven't had my first ultra sound yet, so I'm still hoping there's two of them in there. A boy and a girl so I don't have to pick :)

Was it a surprise or were you trying?

It was a surprise. A good one though. We were going to wait until I was done with school, but I've learned that nothing ever goes as I plan because God as a better plan in mind!

How have you been feeling?

Nauseous. And for those of you who know me, I am not so good at handling that feeling. I have also felt very tired. I don't like to smell or look at food. All the normal pregnancy stuff. Luke has been taking great care of us doing most of the cooking, cleaning and all that other exhausting house work.

How did you tell your family?

We told my family when we were home during Spring Break because we know it would be the only time we could tell them in person. We had just got back from Seaside and I wanted to show them the video "of our day":

We told Luke's family with our little niece and the Seaside Picture: 

(This was a re-run. The one on Luke's phone is better because she really says our names, but it was too large to send)

We told my grandparents and some aunts with a joke that totally backfired and turned out to be really awkward. "We're not pregnant. April Fools." Don't use it.

How did your family react?

Most of my family thought we were lying because we make jokes about babies all the time and Luke's family too but only because it was April Fools Day.... But everyone is REALLY excited to be aunts, uncles, grandmas, great-grandmas, grandpas, great-grandpas, great-aunts, great-uncles, etc... Our little baby is blessed to be born into such a wonderful and supportive family (on both sides). 

Best Reaction Awards definitely go to these "aunts" and "uncle":

Brooklyn Falter

Jacki and Kade Erickson

Brianna Anderson

Are you still moving back to Washington in January?

For those of you who didn't know, Luke was going to transfer to UW in January, but with the baby, we are just going to stay here and finish at USU. It'll be cheaper and easier on our little family. He will be getting his masters at UW. He'll graduate with his Bachelors when the baby is 18 months old. But don't worry Washington friends, we will still be visiting lots.

Are you going to finish school?

Unfortunately ;) As much as I'd like to be done now, I only have one year left. I just got a bunch of scholarships, so I cannot justify quitting. I'll do a full summer load, 2 online and 3 regular classes in the fall (which will be the worst semester of my life because after I have the baby I will not want to go back) and then finish with spring, which is 4 online classes and 1 on campus. I'll walk with a 6 month old child on my hip in May! Then I'll do an internship in the summer after graduation!

Are you going to work?

After I have the baby or maybe after I finish school (since my job will end), my main work focuses will be Kylee Ann Photography and Yoli. These are both very flexible with being a stay-at-home mom. I can control when I work and how much I work and how much I make, with both of these "jobs" Plus, they are both SO fun!!

A Very Spring February

February passed by so fast! I know it's a short month, but it felt like January was just last week. This is also a very odd month because it felt like spring almost the entire month. Logan is supposed to be completely white this time of year, but we're still waiting for winter...

I started the month was some gorgeous bridals. Thank you Mykenzie, Kelli, Jamie, and Aubrey.

 

I got to have lunch with some of my girl friends from work. We went to Center Street Grill. It was fun talking about weddings and life. Congrats Lacie ;)

Later in the week, my wonderful aunts, Marci and Jeri Kay, came over for our first Yoli Fast Start Training Party! We are all so pumped to get this community educated!

Luke's brother, Chase, had an accident and fractured his skull. There was some scares with his hearing after the fall so he stayed the night in Primary Children's hospital. He is okay and was in heaven eating pizza and playing Xbox. We got to babysit our niece, Mahal, while her parents went to visit Chase in the hospital.

We colored, tried on shoes, ate grapes and string cheese, sang, danced, watched Tangled and just hung out. She finally said Uke when he was at the store, but she calls him Ky-ee when he's around. I love it... Luke HATES it. :)


We get so busy on Tuesdays so for Valentines Day we went out on the Friday before. We went to dinner at Beehive Grill then we went to the Vow. Best movie!! I loved it! Channing Tatum is such a great actor...

The next day, I hung out with and took some pictures of my beautiful sister-in-law, Kayla. It was fun to hang out and do somethin different! Part I and Part 2.

Later that day, Luke, Adrian (our brother in law) and I went to Luke's moms to hang out and hot tub! It was so fun to sit, talk and relax for hours!


Valentine's Day was special too, just like every other day being married to a husband that does all my dishes, most the laundry and cleans the house at least once a week. How did I get so lucky?? He got me some beautiful roses for Valentines Day.

Then my momma came to town!! It was the best little weekend ever! We loved it! We went and visited her at Uncle Scott and Aunt Marci's on the first night. A fun little reunion. We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner the second night with Lo, Brad, Me and Luke.

Scary iPhone picture with Lyndi holding a sign for Bryden!

 On Friday night, we had a Yoli party at my aunt's house. On Saturday we went to Hyrum to Hardware Ranch to see the Elk. It was a fun little adventure!

After that, we came home and started cooking and cutting potatoes and steaks. Meanwhile, my cousin Colin got in a terrible car accident, my Uncle Scott and Justin were very sick and my cousin Stephanie got engaged! Straight after dinner we went to the hospital to give blessings to Colin and Marci. Then, we went to Scott and Justin. It is such a wonderful thing being married to a worthy priesthood holder. Colin had a broken rib, colar bone, concussion and too big gashes, but survived and is doing great now! 


After we made our rounds in North Logan and Hyde Park, we came back and cooked up a batch of homemade caramel corn and hot fudge for our hot fudge sundays! Then we sat, talked and ate the rest of the night.


Momma left on Sunday afternoon. We took her down to one of my favorite families ever, the Meyers to meet one of my other favorite families ever, the Nashs. It was so fun playing with Savannah, Paige, Jameson and Gregson and catchin up with Anna and Teresa!

The next weekend was the OSRT Weekend! It was so fun showin outofstaters what Utah State is all about! Here is the wonderful OSRT team. I love them all!

After the Out Of State Weekend, I came home and had a beautiful nap. Then, Luke and I met Lisa, Honey, Kellie, Kayla, Mahal and Chase at El Sol. After dinner, we went shopping at the mall and hobby lobby.


Then, Luke and I had our February temple date to the Logan temple. Such a beautiful, peaceful escape from the world.

This months biggest accomplishment. I started...and finished Gossip Girl. 5 seasons. NBD.

Watch for next month's big accomplishment. I'm sewing these jeans in my class right now except they are gonna be gray corduroy skinnies. Watch out guys, this girl knows how to sew!

Kade and Jacki came over one Monday for hot tubbin and kinect fun! After hot tubbin and talking for a long time we came in and did boys vs girls. We'll get em next time, right Jacki? I'm still looking for a volleyball game.


Also, I was a guest speaker on a Yoli Webinar with my dad, grandma and aunt Tracy. Even though it was petrifying, I really enjoyed answering a few questions in front of the Yoli nation. I've had a lot more success than I could have imagined... See here. My goal is to be car qualified in 2012. Who wants to join me??
  


We also made some summer decisions...
We had some choices:
1.Stay in Logan and work at current jobs
2.Move and sell pest control all summer
{See next months blog for decisions and announcements}