Books from Gabe

There is a sweet lady who I met through my mom (She is in her ward) who lost her precious little boy Gabe about 6 months ago. They still aren't sure how he passed away, but she is seriously such an inspiration to me. I love to read her blog, she keeps such a great outlook on life. How hard would that be to lose someone you love so much as your child? I have no idea, but from what I can see, she is doing an AMAZING job at dealing with it. You can read about it here to get the full story, and to keep updated on how she is doing. 

Anyway, because she is such an awesome person, she decided to do a book drive from Gabe. She gathered donated books from all around the Pocatello area and held a night dedicated to labeling, categorizing, and cleaning the books. She then took them to Portneuf and a couple other hospitals for them to give children when they get admitted so they have something to read and take home with them. I thought it was such a good idea, and it probably means so much to that child who receives it. I was so fortunate to get to help, and the feeling was so amazing. Here is a picture from that night.

We love Amy. Thanks again for the opportunity.

Pay it Forward 2011

Pay it forward 2011:

I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. You must in turn, post this (FB or Blog) and send something YOU make to the first 5 people who comment on your blog (or FB post). The rules are it must be HANDMADE and must be sent to the 5 people sometime during 2011.

I don't know if even 5 people read my blog, but if you happen to read this, leave a message and I will for sure send something!  Seriously, don't be shy, even if you don't know me very well. It will help us GET to know each-other. I have no idea what it is I will be making, but I can guarantee that it will get to you in 2011!!!

Its IN!!!

I SENT IN MY APPLICATION TODAY!!  AHHHHHHHHH!!!  

April 1st is the first cut off. 

The top 50 applicants will be notified and will get to have an interview, and a critical thinking test. Oh my heck, I don't think I have ever been so nervous!  

I am petrified right now.

The first day of school went well. Seems to be pretty straight forward so far. Its going to be hard to get back into the whole swing of things, but I'm looking forward to more knowledge. 

I feel so blessed to get to go to school and to have a sister who helps us out IMMENSELY by watching our cute little weasel! Speaking of Kinlee. She makes me so happy :)

FHE...watching Despicable Me....sort-of. I'm currently on the computer, but here I go!

G'night!!

School

School Starts tomorrow! WISH ME LUCK!!!! 15 Credits. 

I apply to the program this week. Oh man I'm scared!

Thats all.

Hope everyone had a great Sunday. I know that I surely had a rough one with my little munchkin. She is surely independent and she doesn't want to be told no. Sacrament was difficult. 

Hopefully next week will be better.

New Years!

New Years eve, Kevin had the day off, so we hopped in the car and drove to Utah. 

Kind-of funny, we took a cooler and sandwiches and you would think I was either pregnant or an old lady, because we literally stopped every exit. 

Inkom we stopped at the automotive shop to get new windshield wipers. 

We stopped in McCammon to go to the potty, 

we stopped at the rest area by Malad to go potty, 

we stopped in Layton to shop and go potty.

Finally, we stopped at the temple. Oh boy it was great. 

Some pictures: 

(Kinlee was asleep for almost all of it)

 

Next, we went to my aunt and uncle's in American Fork, UT and stayed a couple nights. 

THANKS for letting us stay guys.

We ate lots of food.

Stayed up late.

Watched the office.

Played the Kinect on the x-box.

I will leave you with some fabulous dance pics.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas!

Sorry- its a long one!
I am a little late on this post, but we had just an awesome Christmas! We stayed home so that Santa could come to Kinlee and she got so spoiled. She is such a fun little girl. She is always making us laugh. 

I had to get photos off the ipod, so they aren't great quality, but that is alright.

Here is what we did for Christmas this year.
We started with our annual Christmas gingerbread house.
We built it Christmas eve day and drank hot chocolate. It was fabulous.
Kinlee had the best job. She ate all the candy, and helped just a bit :)

Next, that evening we went to my Grandma's house for dinner.
Pretty close to everyone was there. It is always fun to get together with that family because we hardly see them. We sure missed my Grandpa though.
(no pics, cuz im lame)

Christmas Morning:
We stayed at our house and woke up to what santa brought us!
Kinlee got this!

Kevin and I got this:

Kinlee when she first came out of her room. She was more interested in the people who were there to see her! (My mom and dad, chelsie, mike, and Liam, Whitney, Logan, Saige, and Peyton)

 She got SOOOO much stuff from all the family. Books, learning videos, doll stuff, a rocking chair, clothes, a tag reader, a fridge phonics, more books, blocks...seriously, she got so much.

After we were finished at our house, we went to my mom and dad's to open gifts and have breakfast. We stayed late and made dinner and hung out all day. It was great.
For our big gift my mom sent us on a scavenger hunt throughout the house gathering clues to where it was.

Then, the last clue took us to the garage where we found a TRAMPOLINE!! What?! A big. Nice. Tramp!!
We cant wait to put it up. Kinlee will be in heaven. I will be in heaven!

The day after Christmas, we went to Kevin's moms house. We had dinner, opened presents, and played the Wii bowling. We had a great time!

That is the only picture I got of the night, but Kinlee once again got spoiled. 
She got the rocking chair, a sleeping bag, purse, hat, a couple books, lip stuff, and a Dora movie.
Kevin and I were really spoiled too. 
We got a dehydrator, a set of dishes, socks, a blanket, etc.


Kevin's family from NC, FL, and Maryland got kinlee lots too (mentioned in the list above)
THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE! 
I will get out Thank yous! Promise.


 

3rd Anniversary

December 21 was our 3rd year of being married. Can I just tell you that Kevin is such a sweet guy. I basically forgot about it with being so busy with Christmas stuff and school finals that it came so fast. But Kevin didn't forget. He got me the most beautiful flowers and wrote the sweetest letter to me. I'm not going to lie- I teared up a bit. Then we went to dinner at Chilis and just hung out the rest of the night. It was great!  I sure do love that man of mine. I am so lucky to be with him for time and all eternity. We are looking forward to another hundred years of marriage!!! LOVE YOU KEV!!!!

Grandpa

My grandpa is such a great guy. From the time I was a little girl I was always his little sweetheart. He liked me the best of all the grand kids ;) At least I thought so anyways. When I got married he thought he lost his little sweetheart, but I didn't think so- I always thought of him as one of my best friends. When I had Kinlee he has been hooked on her bright blue eyes. He then called her his sweetheart as with the other grand babies. He has long been my only grandpa and I cant believe how fast it can all be taken away from us. He has still got a little of time left- he is in the hospital right now not doing so great, but I hope he knows how much we love him and we are thinking of him. I want him so badly to pull through so that I can show him how much he means to us. We have been so caught up in our own lives that we haven't been over to visit him for almost a year. How pathetic is that to my one and only Grandpa whom I love so much. Grandpa has always taught me so much. He tells 3 hour stories about how to use a telephone, or reads every traffic sign to us all across the state on the longest drive to the coast. He makes sure that we know how HE wants something done. Grandpa would always just show up to our houses just to say hi when he was out. Even IF he had serious leg problems. Grandpa always wanted home-made jam from our apricot tree. He loved it. Too bad this year we didn't get our apricots or we would have had a reason to go see him. I wish I had just 2 minutes left to tell him how special he is to me. 

Please, Please, Please let him pull through.

Thanksgiving.

We had an awesome time in FLORIDA over Thanksgiving. Here are some pics from the trip!

This last one is funny because we tried so hard to get a good picture of us under water with my new waterproof camera, but we couldn't get it in time!!!

We went shopping.

We went fishing! (twice- it was too fun the first time to not go again)

Kinlee caught a fish.

Kevin caught several fish.

I caught 2 fish. 

We celebrated Opa's 79th birthday!

We relaxed. :)

Went couponing.

Kinlee got MAJOR spoiled. 

We went on walks every night around the block to try to get Kinlee to sleep.

Kinlee slept in a big girl bed and woke up early.

The flight was long, but Kinlee did awesome.

Alan gave Kevin and I birthday presents- Joey Logano hats....SIGNED!

We went to the beach. Kinlee had a ball.

We went to Saratoga Jungle gardens where we got to see up close animals and watch silly little shows that were educational and fun.

We ate tons of awesome food- but didn't go out even once to a restaurant.

(Oh how I love people who can cook)

We went swimming in Oma and Opa's pool.

We had Thanksgiving with Alan, Angie, Derek, Oma, Opa, Corey, Wilfred and Ushie ( From Germany- I dont know how to spell her name for real) Aunt Joan, and Howard and his wife. (Also from Germany)

Such a fun time! Cant wait to go again!

Day 14, 15, 16

Day 14: I am grateful for temples. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve people I don't know just because I know they need the help. I have never really understood temples until I was able to go through for myself. I love it, and I have a goal of going every month, and even though that doesn't happen because life is so crazy- It will start happening when I am done with work. No excuses now.

I am beyond excited to do the marvelous work for the lord and all these wonderful people.

We will be going in Florida to the nearest temple and boy am i excited. "I love to see the temple" is one of the songs I love to sing to Kinlee- because I hope that one day she will have the desire to enter that sacred place of love and beauty.

Day 15: I am grateful for good friends.I am always feeling sorry for myself when I haven't heard from friends in a while and I feel just lonely. I don't know why, because I have the most amazing friends ever that teach me so much. I am grateful for the fact that they share the same standards as me. LDS or not, they are great people who care about me and others. I was able to go to a girls night last night, Bunco, with one of my great friends and I met so many amazing people. I see how important it is to be close with your ward family. They are all so fun and such great people. I had a great time. Thanks to those ladies for the great laughs, food, teasing, and loud FUN!

Day 16:  Today I am grateful for music. Music has always been a big part of my life growing up in a music teachers' home! I wish I was more musical myself, but I just LOVE listening to music. It always finds a way to be uplifting and gets me into a better mood! I love it because Kinlee dances too!! haha She is so adorable! I definitely will always cherish the silly little things she does!!

Day 11, 12, 13

Day 11 I am grateful that I get to teach the girls in Young Women's. I often wonder why I am the one who teaches them, when I feel inadequate. Not only is this calling for them, it is for me. I am learning soooo much and I am grateful that I have that opportunity.  I love to learn about the basic principles we learned as Young Women. Although it hasn't been long since I was sitting in my own YW class, i feel like I have forgotten so many of the basic things we are taught. I am grateful for the refresh in my memory it gives. I love the girls. I teach just one most Sundays and that makes it difficult for her I am sure because she gets ALL the questions, quotes, activities to herself, but she is amazing and SO smart!!

Day 12 I am grateful for Family Night and for quick dinners!  I love when Kevin comes home and it is play time for Kinlee. I love the sound of laughter and feet running around. She is so hilarious when daddy comes home. I am grateful for family night that gets me focused on what really matters in my life and not the unimportant things. I am grateful that I have a family to spend family night with! 

Day 13: Today, I am so grateful for Kinlee's prayers. Even though I cant understand a word she is saying, and she doesn't really know what she is saying either, but it is adorable and so innocent. I am grateful that she is learning so quickly the things that matter, and the commandments we have been given to keep us happy. Praying will definitely do that for her. I'm grateful also for the communication the Lord gives back. We are blessed big time.

Day 10

Day 10: Today I am very grateful for work. I'm not necessarily grateful for the work I do, but grateful that I have a job! I am grateful that I can learn from work, become a better person, and meet so many new people to become friends with. It will be sad to say goodbye within the next month, but I feel it is time to focus my energies on KINLEE and SCHOOL right now. Who knows...maybe somewhere down the line I will get to go back for the summer or something. :) 

Along with that, I am grateful for my parents, and my sister who always watches Kinlee when I am at school or work. 

I am grateful for Kevin being able to work so hard each day to support us and get us the things we need. Right now, with the holiday coming so fast, I was getting a little stressed about money, and how we are going to pay for presents we need to buy, and decorations I need in my house, and this and that, but still have a great feeling about quiting my job. It was confusing me!!  I know though now, that it is not all about gifts, and having things. I am beyond excited to have enough time to hang out with the two loves of my life. I'm also looking forward to finding some kind of creativity that might be hiding inside of me to get gifts for family and friends. Kevin and I also decided that for our presents to each other we are going to have about a $20 limit and do something special for each other. We are probably going to fall in love with the idea, and make it a tradition! I am SOOOO excited for CHRISTMAS this year!

Yeah, so what....I got a little off track ;)

Day 9

Day 9: I realized that I should have gotten caught up and had the days in sequence with the days of the month....but I didn't oops. Thats ok. Today I am so grateful for movies and books and toys that are used to occupy Kinlee while I am doing homework. Kinlee just loves Curious George, Shrek, and Dora! She sits on my lap for a few minutes while I am watching my lectures. I always feel really bad making her do things without me while I am doing homework, I just keep reminding myself that I am getting a degree for both of us! I will be smarter:) and be able to only work a couple days a week, and Kinlee will be able to have the things she needs, and possibly a sister. I am grateful for Kevin today also, for the many things he helps out with to make this possible.

And then....Kinlee comes grabs my finger and says come come come...momma please. AHHH she kills me. 

SO CUTE!

Day 8

Day 8 Today I am not feeling very grateful. I have been so busy with school, and flunking tests that I forgot to think about how grateful I am. But, today I am grateful for food. How grateful I am that my family and I can eat each day and be fully satisfied.  We have started a great tradition where we take food to homeless people each year for Christmas and Thanksgiving. We love the service, and they love the food. I am grateful that I can do that to help someone!

18 months!!

So Kinlee is now 18 months and she is cute as ever!

*Currently she is without diaper and pulling dvds out of their cases. AHH. But she is very persistant, and doesn't want that darn diaper on. I can feel a potty training coming on! 

She says so many words:

Momma, Daddy, Gus, Saige, Grandma, Papa

Banana, More, Please, Thanks, Shrek, Dora, George

Ball, Ka-Ka, puppy, kitty, cracker, food, movie,

sippy, blanky, baby, teeth, cheese.

She is not apposed to trying words we tell her to say. They are usually pretty close, but funny to listen to. 

There are too many words to remember at this point, but holy cow is she learning. 

She LOVES treats. (wonder where she got that?) 

She LOVES playing with her cousins

She Loves being outside. Uh oh for winter.

She loves her baby. 

She loves George, dora, and Shrek. Always asking to watch those three movies.

She loves puting my make-up on.

She always wants to go in her tent with us.

She loves bananas, grapes, waffles, and chicken noodle soup.

She loves being with mommy and daddy!

She loves brushing her teeth- NOT when WE brush her teeth, just her.

Her hair is getting long enough to put in pony tails.

She loves pulling clothes out of her drawers.

She LOVES LOVES LOVES shoes. 

She HATES baths. -ugh, she used to love them.

She wont sit in the grocery cart.

She is spoiled, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We love spoiling her! haha. 

We love our Kinlee!

Day 7

Day 7  I am grateful for my bed. I LOVE SLEEPING!!!  

I'm fortunate to have a nice bed, one I can sleep in every night!

I feel so warm and cozy when I'm laying there!

And then I wake up rejuvenated and ready for the day! (right)

List of items for Sullengers

PAY IT FORWARD PROJECT:

1 Box of Granola Bars
2 Trail Mix (Personal Size)
2 Goldfish (Personal Size)
6 Fruit Leather (At Costco you can get a box with 48 individual leathers for under $10)
Breath mints/Gum
Small Eye Drops (Visine)
3 Pens & Journal
Fleece Blanket for the parents (47" x 57" OR 42" x 52"- Try and go for the bigger one :) )
2 Pairs of Socks (preferably with grips on the bottom)
2 Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Chapstick
Small lotion (non-scented if possible)
Playing cards
Disposable Camera

I am donating a  full basket, their goal is 200 baskets, so if you go here you can stay updated on the items they need. Anything helps! Just let me know if you would like to send something up with me or if you would like to come up with me to donate your time!  They are putting them together on Dec. 17th.

Day 6

Day 6: I am so grateful for my in-laws. Every one of them!  Kev's mom, his dad, his brother, his step parents, his grandparents, his great grandma, his aunts, uncles, cousins (although I still haven't met his cousins). I feel so welcomed into the family and they are all SUCH amazing people. How lucky Kinlee is to have such loving family on both sides. She is one spoiled girl from these amazing people. I hope they all know how much they mean to me, and I cant wait to get to know them even better than I feel I know them. They are a huge part of our lives, and are the most giving people I have ever met. I feel loved by them, and I hope they know how much they mean to me. THANKS for all you do for us!!!

Day 5

Day 5: I am grateful for my siblings!  They are wonderful. Whitney, Chelsie, Shaylee, and Todd. They have always been my best friends and I am so glad that they are a part of my life. I have always loved having 4 siblings and I want that for Kinlee. I am grateful for all of us being so close to each-other.

Love you guys!

I was always told,

"Keep your siblings close to you, they will be your best friends when you are older."

Its true- and they are!

Day 4

Day 4:  I am grateful for my Mom and Dad. Having Kinlee has taught me a lot about sacrifice. My mom and dad have always been the most amazing parents anyone could ask for and they did it all without a fuss. I always felt loved. They dedicated their time, money, talents, efforts, knowledge, and love toward me and my siblings and continue to do anything and everything for us. Knowing now how much it takes to raise ONE child, I know they worked hard each day and night for all FIVE of us kids. They sure do know how to parent, I wish I could be half as good as them.

They are the very best grandparents. They love their grandkids so much and it shows. I know Kinlee and her cousins are always asking for her papa and grandma. She loves them so much.

"Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live."

 

My parents sure did that! If only I can no do that for my kids:).....