The Salley Scoop

Catch up

2012-02-07T22:14:00.010-07:00

Kaden is getting so big, I can't believe he is going to be one next month! He can now stand up to things and hold on all by himself, he will be walking soon I'm sure. We had to put up the gate at the top of his stairs since he is rolling all over the place now. He can't crawl that well yet but he can army crawl and get to where he wants to go.

Outside after the huge 20 inch snow storm we got. Dad is trying to get him to show how much snow we got. He loves his beanie and wears it all the time!

Enjoying bath time! Kaden loves the bath, he could play in there all day long if we let him. Anytime he is sad, bath time makes it all better.

Cuttest boy in the world! I love his cheeks and his cute face!

Kaden's 1st Christmas!

2011-12-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

The whole month of December was so much fun! Paul did an amazing job decorating our house with tons of lights, winning us 2nd place in the lights contest at our apartment and getting us $75 off rent! Kaden loved all the decorations inside too, especially the tree, he just stared and stared at it. We drove around one night and let him look at all th lights outside, he loved every second of it! For Christmas eve we went to grandma Jean's house and had a big, delicious dinner with all our family and the Davis' clan. We had a fun white elephant and enjoyed talking and eating with everyone. Christmas day, we all woke up early, Kaden waited on the stairs with all the kids looking so big. He was the youngest so he got to go into the room with all the presents first. He got a good haul for one little guy. He loved everything, he played and played, took a nice christmas nap, had a delicious christmas breakfast and then enjoyed the rest of the day with all his family!

Since Christmas was on Sunday this year, we got to go to sacrament after doing santa gifts and having breakfast. Kaden looked so handsome in his Christmas getup. What a big boy he is becoming!

Kaden's toys from Santa! He was a really good boy you can tell!

His first Christmas jammies!

fell asleep snuggling with mom

All ready for the freezing weather

helping dad with the lights.

Having Kaden with us this year was the best Christmas ever! We had so much fun all month long celebrating, Paul and I enjoyed it more than Kaden I'm sure, but we made fun memories that will last us forever. Kaden is the best part of Paul and I's life, we love him so much and can't imagine our lives without him in it. He makes everything better, we are so blessed to have him. He is so easy-going and happy all the time. Can't wait for all our Christmases to come as a family! He will love it more and more in years to come.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T21:34:00.001-07:00

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! Everyone got together at my parent's house and had lots of great food and great company. We of course are most grateful for Kaden this year, he made Thanksgiving so special this year. we love him so much!
We Salley's also had our family pictures taken and they turned out great! Thanks again Randi!

4 generations

Jean and her boys

The brothers and their wives.

The whole Salley gang

Salley Family Nov. 2011

2011-11-21T13:46:00.022-07:00

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to Randi for doing our new family photos! we LOVE them, they turned out amazing! I love my little family!

Cousin Love!

We absolutley love these kids, they are so good with Kaden and he loves to be with them. It's so nice living this close, their friendship is just going to continue to grow!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T22:00:00.000-06:00

Kaden had a great first Halloween! He was a pumpkin! And the cuttest one I've ever seen. We all went up to Randi and Allen's house early in the day and decorated their front yard, it turned out awesome. Randi made a delicious dinner, soups and breads and great desserts! We handed out lots of candy to all the neighborhood kids and then took Kaden trick-or-treating with the kids, he liked to be out and about for a little while but then was ready to go back to Randi's. We LOVE halloween, had so much fun this year, and can't wait for next year to come!

6 Month Photo Shoot

2011-10-21T09:52:00.018-06:00

Aunt Randi was nice enough to take some pictures of Kaden for his 6 month milestone and she did such a great job! They are so cute! We sure love this little man, can't believe he is getting so big so fast.

6 Months Old!!

2011-09-29T15:21:00.015-06:00

Well it's finally happened Kaden turned 6 months old!! It was very bittersweet for me because I always thought that was so far away, such a huge milestone that would be forever til MY baby hit. But on the other hand 6 months is so much fun!
Kaden has the sweetest, funniest personality. He laughs all day long and is so very laid back and easy going. We are spoiled rotten with what a good baby he is. He makes life so much more fun and puts things in perspective, Paul and I now know what is important and what our priorities are, Kaden is definitely one of the tops!
At 6 months:
his weight is 18lbs. 13 oz. in the 70%
His height is 26.5 inches in the 50%
-he loves to giggle and laugh
-very ticklish
-extremely laid back
-hardly ever cries
-grunts and growls all day long
-loves rice cereal but is still getting used to fruits/veggies
-sleeps from 8pm-7am
-naps 3 times a day
-loves to sit up all by himself and play with his toys
-enjoys watching tv, especially while playing with toys
-very snuggly
-loves his soft blankie, holds it all night next to his face.
-loves when his dad comes home, he gets so excited and giggles tons
-the biggest blessing we have

Paul and I thank the Lord each day for the joy of Kaden in our family, he brings so much happiness and love, we can't imagine life without him. He has the most amazing spirit about him that makes you want to be with him all the time, makes everyone happy when he's around. Sad to see him growing so fast but it's also very fun. He is learning and growing so much everyday. I'm so grateful for the opportunity and blessing I have of being his mom. Love you Kaden! Happy half year birthday!!

In his new big boy highchair

He was looking so cute before church we decided to take some pictures. Glad we did cause he had a huge blowout at church and had to change his whole outfit :)

He's been learning how to drink out of a sippy cup, he likes it quite a bit and is doing so well.

Loves putting anything and everything into his mouth! I took this picture cause he looked like a little puppy chewing on his blanket, the next time I walked by he had ripped his sock off and it was dangling from his mouth. Love this little boy!

Staying with the Welch kids & other fun times

2011-09-19T12:30:00.019-06:00

Randi and Allen went out of town for a few days and we got to stay with the kids and play! They are such good kids, we have lots of fun hanging out with them. It was a big change going from one kid to four but we managed well. The kids are all in school during the day so we had to take advantage of our nights together. We went out to dinner and dessert, played outside, went for walks, watched movies, and had a great time. I'm so glad we are close enough to do these fun things with family and look forward to many more fun times to come. Kaden LOVED having 3 other kids to play with, they entertained him every second they were home and are such good helpers. We had to adjust to just the 2 of us during the day again. It's really nice that Kaden has the blessing of growing up with other kids around so he's not the only one. He loves to sit up and play with his toys with a movie going on in the background while I get ready in the morning.

Happenings lately

2011-08-30T16:20:00.016-06:00

Trying to get on a good nap schedule everyday. Also trying to get him to sleep in his crib more so we can move him into his own room soon. I just really love having him in our room and so close to us, I can just check on him whenever I roll over in the night and feel more secure with him there. But I also know he is getting older and needs to be in his own room soon.

We've been going on lots of walks, really enjoying the summer and being outside. Kaden loves his stroller and just looks around, taking it all in.

He's getting very close to rolling over, but not quite yet on his own. He just needs a tiny bit of help.

He loves his little baby saucer and can reach over and push the music button all on his own!

He also loves his bumbo! He sits and plays with his toys and also eats his cereal in it. He looks so big sitting up in there.

We took Kaden to the rec center here in Castle Rock. It has an awesome pool setup, complete with two slides, a lazy river, and a kid area with tons of cool toys. We're pretty sure he loved it, he just looked around and took it all in. He is so cute in his little hurley swimsuit. We have found out how fun it is to have kids and take them to do fun new things and Kaden is only 5 months old. Can't wait for all the fun memories we're going to make together and the new things we get to teach him!

First Rice Cereal!

2011-08-29T15:16:00.007-06:00

Well Kaden started crying before the first bite even got to his mouth, he was very unsure about this new way of eating and wearing a bib.

After some lovin' and pats on the back he was willing to give it another shot.

He didn't love his rice cereal and spit most of it out and continued to cry but he's getting better and better everyday.

Now, a few weeks later, he LOVES his rice cereal, he opens his mouth when the spoon gets close and will yell in between shoveling bites in. Can't believe he is getting so big, I am actually starting to get sad about when he will not breastfeed at all anymore. He is such a sweetheart and is always smiling and laughing and screaming with glee! We just love this little guy!

Adam and Megan's Wedding!

2011-08-10T16:36:00.021-06:00

On July 29th 2011 Adam and Megan Salley were sealed for time and all eternity in the Washington D.C. temple at 2pm. It was amazing to be in the sealing room with them, watching them look across at each other and feeling the love they have for each other. They are going to be so happy together and have a great life! We can't wait for all the fun memories we get to share with them in the future. We love Megan and are so excited for her to be a Salley!

Kaden all ready for the wedding. He got a bowtie to match all the other men in the wedding. Some of Megan's friends watched Kaden for us while we were in the sealing, they were so nice and had a blast with him and he was asleep when we came and picked him up after. Talk about good babysitters! Kaden loved these girls, he continued to smile and giggle at them through the rest of the day and the next at the reception.

Adam and Megan first coming out of the temple as husband and wife! Megan's dress was so beautiful and she looked amazing! And in this picture you can see the love Adam has for her. Such a proud new husband.

The wedding party outside the temple

This temple is soooo beautiful! It takes your breath away as you look at it. And the surrounding yard was amazing also.

The car all ready for them to drive away in.

The reception was the next night in Virginia. It was in a beautiful old house that was decorated with antiques and pictures of Adam and Megan. So pretty. There was great food, dancing, lots of pictures, and they walked out to their car in a line of sparklers. So fun!

Kaden and Uncle Adam

I don't know what we would've done without Aunt Carmen. The weather was so so hot the day of the wedding and she stayed in the temple with Kaden and kept him happy and cool for all the pictures. It would've been impossible to have him out there in that heat. He loves Carmen and Jeff.

Coming down the beautiful staircase as husband and wife.

Megan and Adam's first dance. Jean and Paul danced also and later Grandma Maxine took Kaden so Paul and I could have a dance as well. So romantic!

One of my favorite pictures from the wedding! So cute! Adam is such a good uncle to Kaden and you can tell they love each other. Congratulations Adam and Megan!!! We love you guys, what a great eternal family we have!

Paul, Kaden, and I all shared a king sized bed for a couple of nights. Kaden slept amazing in the middle.

Our trip back east

2011-07-27T20:43:00.034-06:00

Adam and Megan's wedding was in Washington D.C. so we decided to go a little early and see some of the tourist sights. We saw all the historic sights first, Kaden had to get his picture with these important places of course.

Then we went to the smithsonian museum, which I love even more after seeing the movie "Night at the Museum." We got lots of pictures of Kaden to document his trip.

This was a huge grasshopper that you were allowed to hold. Paul thought Kaden would want a picture wtih it too. He put it on his arm and Kaden didn't like the feel of it crawling on him so he started waving his arm and I was telling the lady to get it off of him! It was all I could do to not grab it and smash it. I would have had it taken one second longer for the lady to take it off his arm.

Kaden's first subway ride!

We also went to Baltimore and saw the inner harbor and the aquarium. The big ships were so cool.

Kaden loved the new stroller Grandma Jean bought him, he rode in it and just took in all the sights.

The bubbles inside the aquarium. Kaden loved to watch them.

Adam and Grandma Welch taking a load off.

By the time we finished we all needed a nap.

We had a great visit, the east is beautiful, tropical almost. But the humidity was crazy and it was sooo hot.We ate good food, stayed at nice hotels, and got to see Jeff and Carmen. Kaden did amazing the whole trip. He's so laid back and easy going, quite the world traveler already. I love family vacations! After touring it was time for the main event. The Wedding!

Getting Bigger!

2011-07-18T15:45:00.010-06:00

Waiting to get in the bathtub.

Playing with dad.

He loves being on his belly and is getting so good at holding his head up. And the biggest news lately... he can grab things and hold them on his own!! We have been excited to get him some new toys now that he can hold them and suck on them. He just learned how to grab things while we were on our trip to Vernal. Such a big boy now.

Vernal Trip and 4th of July

2011-07-04T15:01:00.000-06:00

We all decided to go to Vernal over the 4th of July to see my mom's side of the family. And it was a blast! It was Kaden's first trip to Vernal and he LOVED it. Everyone gave him tons of attention, rocked him to sleep everytime, he never had to take naps, and was busy doing fun things every second (it was hard to adjust to just the two of us staying home again.) We went to a parade, a rodeo, and boating. All of which Kaden loved. Of course the guys were all excited to take their guns and do some skeet shooting and prairie dog hunting, a Vernal tradition.

The 4th of July was so fun! We went to the Vernal parade in the morning. Mom and dad went and saved us great seats and we were able to back the truck right up to the road, which allowed for stadium seating! The kids got tons of candy and we all had a great time.

Kaden slept through the first little bit but then really enjoyed it once he woke up and saw everything going on. Dad brought a huge umbrella for him so he wouldn't get a sunburn and he thoroughly enjoyed the shade and entertainment.

Next we went to visit my great grandma Lois and have lunch with her. Mom, dad, my aunt Brooke, and I went to Wendy's to order lunch for our big group, it was the largest order they had ever had! All the people working there were laughing and said they had never had so much food in one order ever before. We were also able to take a 5 generation picture. There was kaden, his mom, his grandma, his great grandma LaRae, and his great-great grandma Lois! He is such a lucky kid!

Everyone had lots of fun socializing and playing baseball in the yard outside. Grandma Lois loved Kaden, and he was such a good boy, he kept smiling at her and talking.

Later that night we went back to my grandma LaRae's house and had a great dinner and had fun talking and being together. Kaden loved his Vernal trip, we look forward to many more fun times with our family and for the great memories he will make there. He couldn't get enough of his Aunt Brooke and Cousin Lindsy. What a blessed boy he is to have so many people that love him. We can't wait to go back to Vernal.

Kaden with his great grandma LaRae and great grandpa Boom.

Father's Day & Kaden 3 months!

2011-06-22T19:44:00.014-06:00

Happy 1st Father's Day to Paul and Happy 3 month birthday to Kaden!!

We had so much fun for father's day, we went down to Grandma Welch's house for a delicious steak dinner and opened presents there with everyone. Paul got an awesome compact hammock from his beautiful wife :) which he loves and can't wait to take up the mountain.

Kaden slept through a lot of the festivities but we know he really enjoyed himself.

He also got a cool puppet from his mom. He is so good at it, he is just like a muppet, Kaden loves to watch him and they will have lots of fun times with Charlie for years to come.

Our sweet little 3 month old man! He is growing so fast and learning so much everyday. It is bittersweet to see him grow and learn so many things. I loved having him be a tiny little newborn that I could just hold and snuggle all day long and just slept in my arms. But it is also so fun to see him develop and be able to play with him more and interact. He is laughing and talking lots. He LOVES to smile, especially in the morning, that is his happiest time (he doesn't get it from his dad.) He is such a happy baby, unless he is hungry he hardly ever cries. And if he's tired he fusses for a second til I give him his blankie up by his face and his pacifier and then he is content again. He goes to bed so easily, he'll just look around in his bed with his blanket and pacifier until he drifts off and then he'll sleep 6-8 hours. As I write these things down I am reminded again how blessed we are to have Kaden in our family, what a great baby he is and how much joy he brings to us. I adore him and could just love and kiss on him all day long (which I do.)

Paul is already such an amazing dad. He has all the qualities I wanted for my children's dad. He loves to play with Kaden, as soon as he gets home from work he runs right over and grabs him and they are together for the rest of the evening. He is so very patient with him, even when he is not so happy and is so tender and loving when he talks to him and holds him. He hates to see him cry and will do anything he possibly can to get him to stop and be happy again. These two are going to be so close and have so much fun together. Paul already talks about fishing, 4wheeling, and being outside together. What a blessed boy to have such an amazing dad. I love these two boys so much, more than I ever even thought possible. You know you will love your kids of course but it is amazing to me how much more my love for Kaden grows each and every day. Paul and I have also grown so much closer since having him, what a blessing children are. I thank my Father in Heaven that I have the privledge of being the wife and mother to these two boys and look forward to the rest of our lives and eternity together.

Kaden cuteness

2011-06-22T19:29:00.009-06:00

Kaden is getting so good at holding his head up while he's on his belly now! He loves to look around and likes when you lay on your belly too and talk to him.

I came in from the kitchen and he was hugging his burp cloth so tight.

He sleeps like a big boy now on his own pillow.

Glenwood Springs Trip

2011-06-14T21:35:00.022-06:00

Last weekend Paul, Kaden, and I drove up to meet our Davis' friends in Glenwood Springs. They were all there for a family reunion and we were really missing Dane, Jackie, Braden, and Lindsy so we drove up and spent the night so we could see them all. We had a blast! We got there Saturday afternoon and decided to look around the town a little bit.

When I was younger my grandma and grandpa Boom would meet my mom and I in Glenwood and I would ride back with them to stay with them for a couple weeks. We would always meet at this little Indian store and we always got to buy something there before we left so I really wanted to take Paul and Kaden there to check it out too.

Here we are in front of the store with the chief, he has been there since the store first opened. You can't tell but Kaden is thrilled to be here. And he loved looking at all the little trinkets inside the store. This place will always hold lots of memories for me and now Kaden can say he's been there too.

Kaden really enjoyed walking around town, we strapped him in his stroller and wandered once it got dark and he had a great time just people watching and seeing all the sights, he's such a laid back little guy.

The first night we were there we said hello to the whole Davis' clan and then Paul and I went and had dinner while they celebrated Grandpa Schott's birthday. We went to a really good little bbq place called "Rib City." After that we went back to our room and hung out with Dane, Braden, and Lindsy for a long time. It was so fun to get back together and be able to just sit and talk and laugh late into the night. What great friends!

Kaden and Braden had lots of fun together, what great buds they will be :)

We got a room with two queen beds so Kaden got a queen bed all to himself and boy did he love it, a guy can really stretch out in a bed that big. He slept so good through the whole night but looked so tiny.

Nathan and Rosemary Davis had a little boy due the exact same day (March 19th) Kaden came on his due date and Rosemary had little Milo exactly one week after Kaden was born. It was fun to put the two of them together and see how they compared in size. Kaden looked huge, he is a very big boy. Maybe one day they will be great friends, the little due date buddies.

The next day we walked around the town with Lindsy and Braden, had a good lunch and then went to the springs for the rest of the day. It was so fun. We found a nice shady place and set up camp so Kaden wouldn't get burned and then took turns swimming and going down the slide. Kaden loved people watching and looking at the water, he was such a good boy all day long. He was a little too small to swim this time but next time he will love swimming and sliding I'm sure.

Lindsy and I having fun on the diving board.

What a great trip, even though it was short we had a great time, it was so nice to see our Davis' friends and spend some time with them and also fun for Paul, Kaden, and I to have a little weekend getaway. I love our little family outings!

More fun pictures

2011-06-07T21:47:00.012-06:00

The pool at our apartment. This was Kaden's first time looking at water in a pool, he loved it and was mesmorized for a long time.

Love this man!

Grilling outside with dad.

Paul has so much fun with Kaden when he comes home from work, it is what we look forward to all day long.

Kaden after a delicious meal!

We sure love this little boy! He is such a sweetheart!

First Hike

2011-06-07T21:32:00.015-06:00

All ready to head out on his first hike. He rode in his Bob the whole time, what a trooper! Paul and Dad would carry the stroller over big rocks and took turns pushing up the hills.

Eating his lunch in the great outdoors!

The beautiful Palmer Lake Reservoir

Amazing swing that went out over the reservoir, Paul and I had fun playing on it while kaden waited with grandma.

Kaden's first hike was to the Palmer Lake Reservoires with grandma and grandpa. He did such a great job and loved being outside. He's such a good baby we enjoy taking him to do lots of fun things. We also took him to a BBQ with our ward that evening so Kaden had a great night's sleep after his day of outdoor fun!

2011-06-01T22:01:00.013-06:00

Snuggling his bear.

It looked like he was pretending to fly in his dreams, which was appropriate while sleeping in his aviator themed crib.

Sporting his cool new sunglasses at the Colorado Springs Territory Days.

We're worried he may become a thumb sucker.

Enjoying a beautiful evening in Castle Rock

We have really been enjoying the warm weather that is finally starting in Colorado. Summer is going to be so fun with Kaden around, so many firsts for our little guy and so many new things to learn. We are still loving every second spent with Kaden and have never been happier.

2 Months Old!

2011-05-19T16:57:00.007-06:00

I can't believe Kaden is already 2 months old! It seems like I was just verily in the hospital having him and now he's getting so big, the time sure does fly. We love having Kaden in our family, he makes everything so bright and brings such joy to our lives each day. I truly feel honored and blessed to be his mom. We love you Kaden!
2 month stats:
-13.8 pounds (which is in the 89th percentile, he is a big boy)
-22 inches long

He loves to smile and coo and just giggled for the first time acouple nights ago. He has also slept through the entire night a few times now. He falls asleep so easily for naps and bed time, we are very blessed, he is such a good baby. What a cute little guy we get to have in our family. I love to just kiss and snuggle him all day long!

Getting bigger- I love this little man!

2011-05-18T15:33:00.012-06:00

Doing some tummy time!

He LOVES taking baths. We put him in right before bed and it just knocks him out after, so relaxing!

His new big boy jammies!

Kaden is doing so well and just growing like crazy. We are trying to just enjoy every minute we have with him. He is such a good boy, he hardly ever cries, unless he is hungry or to let us know he is ready for bed. We have just been so blessed to have such an easy going, laid back baby for our first time.

My First Mother's Day

2011-05-09T17:18:00.009-06:00

I had such a great mother's day. Paul got me a beautiful silver necklace with Kaden's name on it, one we can add all our children too. I LOVE it. We went down to my mom's house for a gourment dinner. My whole family got to be there which made it special for everyone. Kaden was such a good boy. I am so grateful to be this sweet little boy's mom, he is my whole world. Being a wife and mother are truly my favorite things in this world. There is no better job than to be a mom and feel the fulfillment and joy that brings.

suggling with dad after church

His two favorite stuffed animals (he got the elephant from grandpa on his first zoo trip)

Having fun playing

I love this boy sooo much!

Kaden's first trip to the zoo

2011-05-09T17:06:00.009-06:00

Saturday was so very nice we decided it would be the perfect time to take Kaden on his first zoo trip. So we dressed him up in his stylin' short overalls and headed out. We had a great time, we went to the Denver zoo so my sister and her family and Jean all went with us as well.

Grandpa riding the carousel

First time riding in his stroller without his carseat, he LOVED it. We were able to keep the sun off him in there but hewas able to stretch out and get some cool air along the way. He did sleep most of the time but I know he enjoyed just being outside and taking in all the new smells and sounds. We were there the entire day and he did so well, didn't cry the whole time! What a good boy :)

New favorite thing...

2011-05-05T15:14:00.006-06:00

Reading!!!We were laying on our bed waiting for Paul to get back from working out and I was trying to get him to stay awake a little longer. He was so happy and talkative and smiley I thought I would see if he liked to listen to me read to him. I didn't think he would really pay attention but boy did he, he looked at every picture and listened so well. He even did lots of talking of his own. Thanks Grandma Teri for all the books, they are a hit!

First Easter!

2011-05-05T15:08:00.005-06:00

Such a fun first Easter for Kaden, we went up to my sister's house after church and everyone got easter baskets, including Kaden, and then we looked for eggs and had a great dinner. He loves his new hippo toy that grandma Teri got him and also the lavender bedtime lotion and bath soap, puts him right out every time :)

Fun recent pictures

2011-05-05T14:52:00.016-06:00

We put him next to this bear his first day home from the hospital, so fun to see how much he's changed and how big he has gotten!

Trying to teach him to drink from a bottle too, so far it's not his favorite thing but Paul is patient with him and we just keep at it.

Paul absolutely loves sleeping with Kaden, last night he asked me if he could wake him up from peacefully sleeping in his bed next to ours to put him in bed with us :) I said no of course but it was still very cute.

Kaden's first vacation- we love Grandma Jensen!

2011-05-04T16:03:00.030-06:00

My Grandma Jensen had been very sick so mom, dad, Kaden, and I decided to go visit her. I really wanted to see her again and I wanted her to get to meet Kaden. So the four of us headed out on not only Kaden's first vacation but my first time having him without Paul (it was hard to leave Paul having such a tiny baby, but we both felt it very important we went to see grandma. Kaden changed so much while we were apart, Paul couldn't believe he was the same baby when he saw him again.) Grandma was so excited to see Kaden, she loved that his middle name was Ryan and she couldn't wait to see him and hold him. They loved each other instantly. Kaden was such a good boy and just sat there and looked up at her, it was such a tender moment. We also got a four generations picture with grandma, dad, me, and Kaden, something we will cherish forever. What a blessing it turned out to be to have gone and visited grandma when we did, over the next few days her health decreased rapidly and only a few days later she passed away. Having Kaden there through this difficult trial was such a sweet experience for our whole family. It is very difficult to watch a loved one go through such difficult things and to lose them but looking at a little baby and seeing their potential and knowing the Lord's plan is at work just makes your heart happy. You can't help but smile while holding Kaden and looking into his adorable little face. Kaden had just verily left Heavenly Father and now Grandma Jensen was returning to Him. If Kaden could have told grandma anything I believe it would have been how happy he was for her that she got to return to our Father and Brother, that she would feel a love from them so fierce she can't even imagine. The spiritual experiences we had while in the hospital with grandma these last few days of her life are something I will hold close to my heart forever. Our family grew so close together and we realized the blessing it is to have such a great family.

Kaden with great grandma Jensen

Kaden and great grandpa Jensen

In his dress clothes for the viewing.

After funeral luncheon

One of the songs that was sung at grandma's funeral was O My Father and the lyrics really sums up our life here and the joy we feel after.

"O my Father, thou that dwellest in the high and glorious place, when shall I regain thy presence and again behold thy face? In thy holy habitation, did my spirit once reside? In my first primeval childhood was I nurtured near thy side?

When I leave this frail existence, when I lay this mortal by, Father, Mother may I meet you in your royal courts on high? Then at length when I've completed all you sent me forth to do, with your mutual approbabtion, let me come and dwell with you."

I will miss my grandma Jensen dearly, she was the kindest woman I have ever known, constantly thinking of others right up until she took her last breath. I feel so blessed to have had her as my grandmother and can't wait to be reunited with her again, until then I know she is happy and loved where she is.

My other grandparents, on my mom's side, came out for the funeral so they got to meet Kaden as well. It's so neat to see him with all of my beloved family and watch for the first time as they are introduced.

Kaden and great grandma LaRae

Kaden and great grandpa Boom.

Something else Kaden learned, from his grandma and grandpa, is he LOVES to sleep in the regular bed. He would wake up every morning and lay in bed with my dad and talk and smile so big! This was the first time he actually would look at you and smile, what a fun new phase he is in now.

How grateful I am that Kaden and I were able to go on this trip. It was a hard but wonderful time for us all, something that will never be forgotten. I am also grateful that he and grandma Jensen got to meet each other before she was gone and we got pictures of that. Kaden was such a good boy the whole trip. He slept the entire car ride and would just wake up to eat and then get back in his carseat and all asleep again. He didn't cry the whole trip except when he was ready to eat and then when he did he was happy as could be again. I love this little guy and the joy he brings to our whole family and for the way I view life, he truly helped me learn the Lord's plan and have an even greater love for eternal families.

Kaden's Blessing Day- April 11, 2011

2011-04-29T09:27:00.020-06:00

Kaden's blessing day went so perfectly! No poop-outs, no crying baby, Kaden was a little angel and Paul did an amazing job! I was so proud of them both as I sat down listening to the beautiful blessing that Paul gave Kaden. What an amazing experience for a mother to witness her husband, who is a righteous priesthood holder pronounce such sweet blessings upon their newborn son. Kaden is honestly the greatest blessing in our lives, what a sweet spirit that was chosen to come to our family, we find joy in being his parents daily and look forward to all our experiences and memories we will make together! After the blessing we all came back to our apartment and had a nice lunch together and just enjoyed being together as friends and family, I could not have asked for a better day.

All ready for his big day!

Our family!

Kaden's first photoshoot

2011-04-28T19:21:00.022-06:00

My sister Randi did a photoshoot for Kaden when he was 6 days old and we LOVE how they turned out. He was such a good boy, we moved him all around and change him and was just a trooper the entire time.

Thanks so much Randi, the pictues are amazing, something we will love forever.

Kaden's first few weeks

2011-04-25T18:51:00.022-06:00

Building forts with dad

Snuggling with grandma

Staying warm after a bath

Don't want to confuse him with sidney's baby doll.

We have enjoyed every second of having Kaden in our home. He has the sweetest little spirit and seems he will be a pretty laid back guy. These first weeks he's had his first sponge bath, 2 photo shoots (pictures to come,) lost his umbilical cord at 6 days, his circumcision ring came off, and his first real bath. I love this little boy more and more every single day. How grateful I am that I get to be his mom.

Kaden Ryan Salley

2011-04-25T15:39:00.021-06:00

Kaden has arrived! I went in for my 40 week dr. appointment on Friday March 18th and my blood pressure was very high (a problem I'd struggled with the last few weeks of pregnancy) so they sent me to the hospital to get it checked out. The Dr. had told us they may just induce me when we got there seeing as I was going to be 40 weeks the next day, but I didn't want to get my hopes up and then get sent back home again so I kept telling myself it wouldn't happen today. My mom happened to be with me for the appointment so she drove me up to the hospital and we called Paul to have him meet us there. We got there about 11:30 am and they checked me into the labor and delivery and had me get into a gown and everything (which mto not get excited) I kept thinking if they tell me I have to go home after all this without a baby I will break down and cry right here. But after they examined me, they decided I could stay and they would induce me!! Paul and I got very excited, we were actually having our baby!! But it was still very unreal, hard to beleive it was finallly happening!

They gave me a pill to try and start labor and said they'd see how that went and then give me another one later that night and start pitocin the next morning. I was so excited! I had been telling myself that it would be a very long ordeal and may take a couple days so I wasn't too disappointed that it would still be many hours before I had him. But after they started me on the first pill I started having regular contractions and labor started right up. I got my epidural when I was dialated to about a 3. That and the IV was what I was most concerned about, the IV was truly awful, my blood vessel burst the first time which hurt like crazy but they got it in the second time, I hate IV's. The epidural wasn't as bad as I thought however... I had worked myself up to it being awful and was so worried the whole time but it wasn't that painful... a pleasant surprise! My family was all there by now: Mom, Dad, Jean, and Randi and what a great support group they were, they made it so fun and kept such a close eye on me and Kaden. Once I got my epidural my blood pressure dropped from extreme high to extreme low which caused some concern for me and Kaden so lots of nurses and doctors kept running in and out. I was really out of it at this point and just slept through a lot of this, I don't really remember much about that time, I do know I kept thinking to myself I should be listening to what the doctor was saying to me but I was just too tired and my eyes too heavy. So I trusted mom, Randi, and Paul to keep an eye on our vitals and take good care of me.

After they had stabalized my blood pressure and Kaden's heart rate, I dialted really quickly and was soon ready to push. It took me about an hour and a half of pushing before Kaden came.

Kaden Ryan Salley

born Saturday March 19th at 4:31 am

7.18 pounds

19.5 inches

The most perfect, amazing moment of my life. Giving birth is truly a miracle uncomparable to any other.

He had his maconium just before he was delivered so they had some NICU staff in the room ready to suction him out and the cord was wrapped around his neck twice but they took good care of him and he was just fine. It was such a strange feeling to look over and see this baby and hear his tiny cry and think that he was mine, the baby I had carried for 10 months and waited so long for. His cry was so hoarse and little I at first wondered if it was coming from my baby or one in a room next to us. I can't even describe the emotions I felt when they handed me my baby for the very first time. He was beautiful, what I had waited for my whole life. I don't think the moment could have been any more perfect, we had some skin to skin snuggle time for awhile and just looked at each other, I couldn't believe how tiny and perfect he was. He didn't cry or anything, just layed against my chest. Then Paul held him for awhile, this was one of the best moments of my life as well. My husband holding our little boy, he looked so tiny in his arms and Paul looked at him with such love and amazment, an image I hold dear and will never forget. We brought the rest of the family in to see him (Stu had gotten there just as I started to push and we were so excited to have him there as well.) The joy I felt at having my family members take turns holding my own son was so great! What a tender moment we all got to share as a family.

The hospital stay was actually something I enjoyed as well. It was nice to have our little family of 3 all together and just enjoy the first couple days of being parents, plus we got an awesome room in the mother-baby unit that had a queen sized bed so Paul could sleep with me. I loved just hanging out with Paul and Kaden, holding him all day and loving on him constantly. We also had lots of visitors come and love on him too: Randi, Sidney, and Rylee came, Stuart, Ryan, Miriam and their girls, grandma welch, and my Aunt Brooke who just happened to be there that same weekend. It was fun to show him off to everyone. They all loved him immediately as well.

We went home on Sunday, it felt funny to be leaving the hospital and taking Kaden with us, like he wasn't really ours to take and someone was going to stop us on the way out. But it was nice to be home, my mom had dinner ready, Randi brought the kids over to hold him, and we just enjoyed having him with us.

Kaden is such an amazing blessing in our lives, I have never felt such joy as I do in being a wife and mother now, having our little family is just what I always wanted and I'm enjoying every second. Paul and I already can't imagine our life without him in it. He makes everything so bright and exciting. What a blessing to be able to bring babies into the world and experience parenthood, it seems there is no greater thing. We look forward to all the memories we will share with Kaden and all the new adventures that await us as first time parents!

It's a BOY!!!

2010-11-04T16:51:00.011-06:00

That's right, in a little less than 5 months, we will be adding a little man to our family! We cannot wait. The ultrasound was such an awesome experience, how neat to finally see the little baby you have felt moving around inside of you. We couldn't wait to find out the gender and about the second position the radiologist showed we knew we were having a boy, he was very open! The radiologist gave us about 20 pictures of our cute little guy and I still can't stop looking at them. It's hard to believe he is growing inside of me. My mom, dad, and Jean were able to go to the ultrasound with us and it was fun to share that fun experience with them. As soon as we left the doctor we went straight to the outlets to do some shopping. I have been waiting 5 months and I coudn't wait one more day. We got such cute things for him, I set them up downstairs and look at them at least 5 times a day. Now all we need is our cute little boy to put them on. We still have some time before he is born but at least now we can start buying his neccessities. Seeing him and finding out

it was a him was one of the best days of Paul and I's life, can't wait for him to get here so we can shower him with lots of love and kisses!

20 weeks!

obviously a boy!

Graduation Day!

2010-09-13T16:49:00.016-06:00

Paul and I both graduated from BYU Idaho in July of this year. Paul in Business Managment emphasis in Marketing. And me with my Associates in general studies. It was a great day for both of us that we have looked forward to for a long time. Paul's mom and brother came out the week before and spent some time with us and Jean helped me pack and clean, which we very much appreicated. We also had Paul's Aunt Jill and grandma, my parents, sister, and her kids. So much family support, it was awesome and we were so glad they were there to celebrate the big event with us. After graduation day we loaded up the trailer and headed back to Colorado for the job hunt to begin!

Baby on the way!!

2010-08-24T20:40:00.002-06:00

Me and Paul are very happy and so excited to announce that we are going to be parents!! I am 10.5 weeks along, the baby is due March 19th. We are hoping to get an ultrasound picture soon, I'm hoping this will make it seem like there really is a baby growing inside my belly! The nice thing is I haven't really been sick, I don't feel 100% but I haven't thrown up at all and I am so grateful for that! We couldn't be happier to add this new little joy to our family!

Happy 22nd Birthday Rachel!!

2009-10-02T14:18:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday Rachel!

Today my beautiful sister is one year older, making her 22! This is Randi (Rachel's sister) I hacked in to her blog and for Rachel's Birthday I wanted to post 22 things I love about my little sis!

1. She is one of my very best friends.

2. She is absolutely beautiful inside and out.

3. I can tell her anything, and she can keep a good secret.

4. She is very thoughtful.

5. She likes to have fun.

6. She has a great attitude.

7. She has a great sense of humor and can always make me laugh.

8. She loves my kids :) and is a super Aunt.

9. She is a great listener and laughs with me when I tell her about my crazy day with the kids.

10. She loves her husband.

11. She likes being with her family and we always have fun together.

12. She likes to play games and can always find something fun to do.

13. She is always thinking of others.

14. She is honest and I know I can always trust her.

15. She has a great testimony.

16. She likes to watch movies.

17. She is working hard and going to school.

18. She loves going on vacations together.

19. She has a great laugh!

20. She is a wonderful wife, daughter, sister, friend.

21. She will be an amazing mother.

22. Because she has always been a great little sister and even though her getting older means I am getting older I love that we seem to be closing the age gap and getting closer all the time!

Happy Birthday Sis! I hope you have a great day. You are the Best!

Christmas in August!

2009-08-06T15:29:00.004-06:00

Paul has gotten really into fly fishing lately. He took a class last semester and has gotten pretty good! So while we were in Jackson Hole this last weekend he found some waders and boots that are kind of a necessity for his new found hobby. His mom told him he could get them and it could be his Christmas gift for this year, the deal was so good, he couldn't pass it up. So here it is Paul's Christmas in August!

Fun Family Visit!

2009-08-06T14:49:00.012-06:00

We have had so much fun the last few days, my mom and dad came over for five days to visit us. We were worried we wouldn't have enough time to do all the fun things we wanted to do so we got up early and went to bed late and ended up fitting a lot of fun stuff into tone visit. On Saturday when they got here we went up to Idaho Falls and had a yummy dinner at Red Robin, then we went to our friends Dane and Jackie's house and hung out with them and Lindsy and Braden for a little while. That night we went for a long walk and enjoyed the nice weather outside. The next day we decided to go on a hike up Cress Creek, it was a nice hot day and beautfiul at the top. We even found some little streams we waded in to cool off. Paul took my parents to his favorite fishing place and then later that night we had a big barbeque with Jackie, Dane, Lindsy, and Braden. We went up and walked around the temple grounds since they hadn't seen it finished yet. Monday we drove to Jackson Hole and spent the day shopping in the cute, little stores, having a delicious lunch and just hanging out. Tuesday was their last day here so, mom and I went shopping in Idaho Falls while Paul and dad went shooting. We all met up later for dinner and Ice Age 3. Talk about a great time, it's so fun having visitors and doing fun things that you don't usually do. My parents were good sports about sleeping in our den on the air mattress, even though they didn't have much room. We appreciate them coming all the way over here to spend some time with us and make fun memories together. Love you guys, thanks for everything!

Go Chukars!!

2009-07-30T16:09:00.005-06:00

Last night we got to go to an official Idaho Falls Chukars baseball game! We were excited to do something out of the ordinary and just spend some time with good friends. Of course we got the classic foods, hotdogs, nachos, and churros. Sadly it was kind of a cold night, Paul and I were both in summer clothes with no sweatshirts, what was I thinking. But it was a great night and we had lots of fun. After the game we decided to go to Arctic Cirlce to get some ice cream. It's always fun to sit around with good friends eating ice cream and just talking. Thanks Richins for the tickets to the game and a fun night with the Davis clan as well!

A little update

2009-07-20T19:44:00.003-06:00

So I realized when I saw the pictures of Paul holding baby Brooke that I haven't posted anything in quite some time, so I thought a little update was in order. This is Paul's last week of school for this semester so he is busy with finals, that makes for a lot of boring nights by myself watching tv, lets just say I'm very caught up with TLC. I've been working a lot at Arby's still, makes me really want to get a college degree so I wont be there forever. But we've been having some fun along the way as well. Paul is taking a fly fishing class so he has been learninga lot and enjoying his time on the river. We went to a demolition derby just the other week and that was very entertaining, then had dinner with some good friends of ours after. Paul also took me out on a date night this last weekend, dinner and Harry Potter, what could be better? We went home to Monument this year for the 4th and had a great time there. My sister and her family came down that day and we had so much fun with the kids and everybody. We haven't been to that parade in a few years so it was fun to be beack again. Unfortunately we also had to return home for the funeral of our beloved Grandpa Welch. It was a very sad and difficult time but also good to sit around with all Paul's family and share our memories of grandpa. He was such a great man and did so many great things in this life and I know he is in a better place. We will miss him a lot but he leaves behind a lot of good memories and we look forward to seeing him again in the eternities.

Aww, so Cute!

2009-05-27T15:54:00.004-06:00

When our good friends Dane and Jackie were at our house last, Paul got to hold their adorable little baby Brooke. He was so cute with her, he fed her some bottle, burped her, rocked her, and then they just sat and hung out together. It was fun to see Paul handling a little tiny baby.

A Fun Memorial Day!

2009-05-27T15:42:00.007-06:00

This Memorial Day Paul was able to get off early and I didn't have to work til 5 that night so we decided we should take advantage of the good weather and spend some time outside. So us and our good friends Lindsy and Braden ran to subway to grab some lunch and then headed to Mesa Falls to see the water falls. It was fun, we had a good time chatting on the way up and then ate our sandwiches when we got there and hit the trail to the falls. They are soooo beautiful. We love going at different times of the season to see the changes. Right now everything is green and beautiful, you just feel so peaceful and happy. We were able to take some good pictures of the four of us. Then we walked around in the visitor's center up there and then headed back home so I could work that night. It was so fun to be out of the house and enjoy the scenery the Lord has blessed us with on this wonderful earth.

We're Ready for Summer Weather!

2009-05-05T19:21:00.006-06:00

Paul has been wanting to get us some bikes to ride around for when it gets warmer weather, so he's been looking online for some good deals. One of his friends at work gave him his old bike, which we took to the bike shop and got all fixed up! Then he found a brand new one online someone was trying to sell and we got a great deal on another one for me! We're so excited to ride our new bikes, get some snoasis, rent movies,ride to school, cruise the town. However the weather hasn't been that nice lately so we're keeping our new bikes in our office for now, awaiting that great sunny day when we can finally take them out and ride them. Come on Summer!!

Paul learned to ride a motorcycle!

2009-04-29T18:27:00.009-06:00

Paul learned how to ride a motorcycle the other day. First time ever and no crashes! He even somehow talked me into riding on the back with him! He did a good job though and I wasn't tooo nervous. The only problem now is he wants one.

Easter!

2009-04-29T18:06:00.011-06:00

I know it's pretty late but I decided I like our pictures so I'm going to post them anyway. We had lots of fun for easter. I really wanted to color and hide eggs this year. Tons of fun! We hid them in our apartment, which was quite difficult in such a small space, but we had a good time. Then later that day we went over to a little park and fed the ducks. They were eating them right out of paul's hand! But I was too scared they would bite my finger so I just thew bread to them.

Our Fun Date Night!

2009-04-07T22:52:00.003-06:00

So Paul has been planning a surprise date night for a couple of weeks now and we finally went on Saturday! He wouldn't tell me anything about it so I was very surprised when we got in the car and kept driving for an hour and a half. We finally got to Pocatello, I didn't think anything exciting happened in Pocatello so I was getting a little nervous. We go to Little Ceasars and grab a quick $5 pizza and have a little picnic in the car and then start driving again. There are tons of people everywhere, so I figure it must be pretty big. It was... Monster Trucks!! I had told Paul awhile ago that I had gone to see monster trucks with my dad and my nephew before and had loved it, so when he Paul heard on the radio it was coming he got us tickets! What a great guy I am married to. We loved it, it was loud and very dirty and dusty but so fun. We also got to watch some motocrossed during the breaks from the monster trucks. I love Paul, he's always doing such fun surprise dates, it never gets boring. And though I was getting very curious after the hour and a half drive it took us to get there, I never doubted that he had something great planned for us. I still loving spending one on one time with Paul and having him all to myself! I am sad to say that even though we made sure we had our camera before we left the house, it didn't have batteries when we tried to turn it on so no pictures this time.

A Quick Trip Home!

2009-03-04T17:54:00.003-07:00

My sweet little nephew got baptized this last weekend and my wonderful parents flew me home for the occassion. It was a wonderful event, Porter was so excited and ready for the big day and it was so great to get to be a part of it. The night I flew in I got to go to the restaurant my brother works at, Blue Star, for dinner, it was delicious! It was fun to get to see my family for the short weekend, they are so great to us, we are very blessed for all the love we have in our family. Unfortunatly Paul had to stay home and work so he couldn't, what a good guy, working to provide for his family. Love you hon! I missed you and it's great to be back!

And Congratulations to Porter for his big day, we're so proud of him!

Paul's 24, Happy Birthday!!

2009-01-28T15:37:00.006-07:00

I'm late posting, but Paul is now 24! He had a great birthday. Sadly I had to work in the morning but Lindsy and Braden kept Paul company until I got home. Then we ran over to Wal Mart to buy his birthday present, a .22 he's had his eye on. Then we went to the movie, Marley an Me, since Paul got a free ticket for his bday. It was fun, we were the only ones in the entire theatre. That night we went to dinner at Craigo's with all of our dear friends. It was so fun, we got lots of pizza and cookie monsters all over the place. He also got a new wii game, lego Indiana Jones, from mom and dad so we stayed up late playing that. I love when Paul's birthday comes around, I get as excited or more so than he does. I love to make his day special and fun and I love trying to surprise him. I can't believe I'm married to a 24 year old man now and we've almost been married 2 years, time sure does fly. How lucky I am to spend my years with such an amazing man that I love.

A Fun Date with my Man!

2009-01-19T20:27:00.008-07:00

Paul and I had such a fun date night this last weekend. There is the cuttest little homemade ice rink in Rexburg this year, $4 for two people to skate and get the ice skates. So first we went ice skating together, just the two of us, it was so fun! Sadly the temperature was about 15 degrees and neither one of us are very good at all at ice skating. I held onto Paul's arm the whole time and he pulled me along. Then we went to the Cocoa Bean to get a hot chocolate and warm up. They were delicious! We came home and watched X Files 2 while we got warm under our big cozy blanket and drank our hot cocoa. It was so fun to have a night just the two of us and to get out of the house to do something we don't do every night. I truly cherish the times we have to spend together and just have fun doing anything and everything. Paul graduates next year and though we're ecstatic and can't wait, I also realized we need to take advantage of our college times and the cheap fun dates we go on.

Christmas and Guitar Hero!

2009-01-07T17:29:00.013-07:00

Christmas this year was great! We got to spend a few weeks home and enjoyed seeing all our family and friends. Christmas Eve we had dinner at Jean's house with the Welch grandparents, my sister Randi and her family, and some good family friends, the Russons. It was great, we had chinese haystacks, it was delicious and then we all did a white elephant gift exchange. Then my mom and dad, Randi and Allen, my brother Stuart, and us all got went to my house and put together the presents for the kids from Santa. That was one of the most fun parts, playing with all the toys before the kids got to. The next day we all got up, watched the kids get presents from Santa, and then opened presents and had a great breakfast. We were all spoiled, but it was so fun. Being with family and spending Christmas is the greatest blessing.

My parents got a wii for Christmas so we could all play when we come home, and one of our favorite games, GUITAR HERO live on tour! It was great, we all got pretty into it and before we knew it we were playing it everynight til the wee hours of the morning.

Thank Goodness for Thanksgiving!

2008-12-05T16:18:00.004-07:00

I realize it's been awhile since I've added any new posts to the old blog so even if I have no new pictures, I thought I'd write a little update. Thanksgiving was amazing. Paul and I were soooo ready for a break and to get home to our families it couldn't come soon enough. We got to watch lots of movies: Twilight, Madagscar 2, and James Bond; all of which were very good. There were a few fun games of scrabble with mom, and lots of pool and foosball with the kids. The dinner was amazing, Paul and I are blessed to have holidays together with both families, I don't know what i would do if this wasn't the case, having both families be such good friends is a true blessing. I got to spend lots of time with my sister and her family and also my brother. Family is for sure the best part of holidays. We also celebrated our good friend's wedding over the break, I LOVE weddings, especially after I got married, you just realizing what a blessing it is and how happy they're going to be. The wedding was prefect as was the reception we're so happy for our dear friends and their new life together1
We were bummed to have to leave Colorado and come back to school and our routine, but luckily we get to return in just 2 weeks. Paul and I are so excited to be able to be home for such a long break, Paul especially needs a break after working so hard this semester.
We look forward to spending more time with our wonderful family and are grateful for the great times we had over Thanksgiving.

Chin Buddies!

2008-11-09T23:48:00.015-07:00

What do we do at 12:00 at night to pass the time...

Things can get a little boring on a Sunday night at 12am here in Rexburg. So we have to create our own kind of fun.

This is what happens when you both get a little too tired at night but you aren't quite ready to go to bed yet. Ahh, the college life.

Pumpking Carving

2008-10-30T16:54:00.007-06:00

mine is on the left and paul's on the right

Paul and I carved pumpkins last night finally. That's one thing you never get too old for, it's fun every year. We've been watching scary movies all week and going to haunted houses, I love Halloween.

Rachel's 21!

2008-10-30T16:27:00.005-06:00

I finally turned 21, it's official, I'm an adult. Paul made my birthday so fun, like he always does. He decided not to go to school that morning so we slept in a little and then he made me waffles! I love waffles! I opened my presents with the web cam going so mom and dad could watch me open them. I got lots of good things, money for clothes, and Paul got me a ipod shuffle for jogging which I was pretty excited about. After presents we went to Idaho Falls to go shopping with some birthday money and had lunch at Bajios, my favorite mexican restaurant. I got some cute new clothes from Paul. We had dinner with friends at Craiog's later, which was deliciuos and then came home to have cake and play some mario kart wii. It was so fun. It's always weird to be away from all my family for my birthday but Paul made the day so special and it was fun to spend it with our friends.

What a Catch!!

2008-10-20T13:52:00.003-06:00

Paul went fishing last weekend and caught the biggest fish he has caught so far, 16 inches! He was so excited, him and our friend Brad brought it home and cooked it on the George Foreman grill. It was delicious! At least we know Paul could catch our dinner if needs be. With the weather getting colder, the fishing season is coming to an end, but what a way to end it!

Yellowstone Adventures!

2008-10-19T21:23:00.019-06:00

I got to go to Yellowstone for the first time finally! I've lived in Idaho for years now and had never been before. It was so beautiful; the leaves were starting to turn bright colors and the weather was great. We went up and stayed in a beautiful log cabin owned by our friend's aunt, it was so fun to be up in the wonderful mountains and being outside. We saw elk, deer, big horn sheep, and lots of buffalo.

We also went on a hike straight down 380 stairs. It was hard but definatly worth it, the sights were amazing. There was a waterall at the bottom that was beautiful.

A Fun Day of Canoeing!

2008-10-19T21:03:00.004-06:00

We got to go canoeing a few weeks ago with our friends Brad and Maryann Sapp and Chris Decker. We were glad we got to go before the Idaho winter weather came. It was so fun. The area around us was beautiful, we heard elk bugeling and took in the peaceful atmosphere around us. It was great to get out of the house and experience the outdoors of Rexburg.

Brad and Maryann's baby Aimee Lynn was such a good sport, she enjoyed seeing everything at first and then decided to take a little nap.

Back to Good Ole' Rexburg!

2008-09-08T15:20:00.000-06:00

We moved back to Rexburg this last week. I hate moving but it was actually quite fun. My mom and dad and mother-in-law all drove down with us and helped us get settled. We got here on Wednesday and all went to work unpacking and organizing and surprisingly we were done by wednesday night. Thursday we hung some pictures and such and hooked up the wii and tv. So Friday and Saturday we had free to just show them around Rexburg and have some fun. We went to Mesa Falls and saw the amazing water falls, we went to the Blackfoot fair (very fun) and we ate at all our favorite Rexburg restaurants. We all had a blast together, it was hard to say goodbye to our parents but Paul and I are still having fun with the friends we have up here and each other. Our new little apartment is so cute, we love it, mom and Jean helped me get everything decorated and set up so nice so we already feel settled and at home. Paul started school today which he was excited about and I started the job hunt. Paul did great at school, but no job news for me yet. Hopefully that will happen soon but we are having fun just spending lots of time together after a summer of hard work. I couldn't live here in Rexburg forever but it is nice to come here for school and have fun times.

Disney Fun!

2008-09-08T14:14:00.000-06:00

I realize it's been a long time since I've added a new blog but I don't want to pass up some of the fun things we've done in the last month or so, so I'm going back a little. Paul and I finally got to disney land! It was so neat to go just the two of us, we had a blast. We spent two days there and got to experience Disney Land and California Adventures. We must've rode Indiana Jones 3 times and Pirates of the Caribbean at least 6 times. We got soaked on Splash Mountain and scared to death on Tower of Terror. We went to fantasmic, which was amazing and then ran over to the fireworks, so romantic. My feet were killing me by the time we went home after all the walking around we did, but we didn't want to pass up a second of fun. It's amazing how magical disney land is no matter what age you are.

Blessings in My Life

2008-07-14T20:23:00.000-06:00

I have recently realized how blessed my life truly is. The Lord has blessed

Paul and I so much. I'm so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man who loves the Lord and works hard. What a beautiful world we live in that has been created for us to enjoy, whenever I'm feeling down I look around at the beautiful mountains or the smiling children playing outside so oblivious to the problems of the world and feel so happy and so grateful to the Lord for all I have. I love my life, and I love my family and friends, how blessed I am each and every day. I have also learned Christ is always willing to help you and

waits for you to simply ask. He is our Brother, our Savior, and our Friend!

4th of July FUN!!

2008-07-08T20:51:00.001-06:00

We finally got a long weekend for the 4th of July! yay!! So of course we took full advantage of the day. We got a hotel room at Huntington Beach and headed out. It was fun to walk around the little shops at the beach and we both got coconut rings and kettle corn out of the deal! Then we headed down to the beach to pick a good spot to watch the fireworks. They lit the fireworks off the pier and had a perfect seat. Of course they were amazing and so romantic to be laying on the beach with Paul.

Megan, Jarom, Me and Paul waiting for the fireworks!

As you can see we all loved the kettle corn and "sand

hammock" the guys made us.

This guy was amazing, he was riding on an enormous unicycle and juggling at the same time! Paul and Jarom held the unicycle while he climbed on. Acouple times he pretended he was falling and it gave me a mini heart attack. It was soo cool!

On Saturday we went to the beach for a little while but since it wasn't that hot we decided to go check out L.A. We strolled around Rodeo Drive and looked at all the fancy stores. Paul really enjoyed seeing all the expensive cars that people in L.A. drive. The best part of the day was spending it with Paul and having that extra time together. I love him so much and I'm so proud of him!

Waiting to eat at the restaurant on the pier at

Seal Beach

Tryin' to Wheel and Deal!

2008-06-30T20:16:00.000-06:00

Paul and I are thinking of buying a new car so we decided it would be fun to go check out prices and things this weekend. It's always fun to look at cars with Paul, he loves them so much! We spent a fun, relaxing weekend just the two of us. It was so nice to be able to just be together and not worry about going anywhere or doing anything. The question still remains whether or not we actually will buy a new car, but it was fun to spend the day with the love of my life. (Also check out Paul's cool Pointe Pest Control outfit! It's his everyday attire!)

Hair One Minute, Gone the Next

2008-06-28T16:33:00.001-06:00

My good friend Miriam cut my hair a few weeks ago. It was a pretty big change but I love it. It's nice and short for the hot summer in California. Paul had never seen my hair short before but he says he's a big fan as well!

Here are some before and after pictures.

We're Bloggers Now!

2008-06-27T12:15:00.000-06:00

I finally got sucked into the world of blogging. I figure this way we can put up some new pictures of us and you can see our California adventure in action. California has been so fun! Paul works hard, long hours during the week so there's little time to do much but eat and sleep so we try to take full advantage of the weekends. We've been going to the beach every weekend; it's been fun to check out the different beaches around this area and see which one we like the best. Paul has gotten into longboarding lately so he likes to take that and ride it along the sidewalk. He's also trying to get better at boogie boarding and skim boarding, we'll see how that goes. It's fun just being in a new place together having fun adventures as we go.