Our Adventures

Picture Time!

2011-11-06T13:58:00.016-07:00

Fall, halloween, leaves, orange, fuzzy socks, sweatshirts around the house, cool weather (oh so happy), witches and ghosts, pumpkin cookies, reading a book with the window open and feeling the breeze come in, "Arsenic and Old Lace" (Cary Grant), taking walks everyday with my girls in the morning, soup and bread, candles...I LOVE this time of year! September through to December never fails to make me come alive in a way that nothing else can. It's the time of year I'm my absolute happiest. Halloween this year topped all halloweens I've had, even considering that I'm in Texas without many crunchy falling leaves. Having Kaylee and Ashlyn made it twice the fun. Parents had always told me it would be like that when I had little kids. I had a hard time believing it was true until I experienced it this year. My parents made holidays so exciting for us. How could it be any better? Well, I learned that life does just get better and better, especially when it's now your turn to make it memorable for your kids.

FALL LIST

Decorate the house (done)

Make or buy a new fall craft (done)

Watch "Arsenic and Old Lace" (done)

Make pumpkin chocolate chip bread (did cookies instead)

carve a pumpkin (done)

make pumpkin puree (done)

Visit the bats at Fredericksburg (done)

Fun halloween meal (done)

Take the girls trick-or-treating (done)

traditional disney kid halloween movies as a family (done)

Go on a walk with the family in the evening (done, done, done, done...... yea!)

Make halloween sugar cookies with the girls (done)

carmel popcorn (did carmel apples instead)

Go bobbing for apples (didn't do)

Go to a craft store to see the festive decorations (done)

Read a book with the window open, wrapped up in a blanket (done)

Wear warm socks and a sweatshirt, even if I have to turn the AC down to feel cold

(done, and no I didn't have to turn the AC down, thank you Texas!)

Send Jason a halloween package (done)

Um, peanut butter in the car at the foot of a two year old. Never again.

This was our bat outing. It had been Jared's goal to go see the bats fly out of this cave about half hour away from our home. They fly out in the evening and return around sunrise. He had been so excited to see this. We decided to wait until October (come on, a perfect halloween activity) since it would finally be cool enough to spend time outside. Apparently this was supposed to be a really fascinating thing, to see hundreds of bats shooting out of the cave. Well, we took dinner up, ate it, then waited and waited and waited. We saw one or two bats fly out, that was it. We were disappointed in those bats. BUT, at least we could finally cross it off our "to do" list. And we were still glad we made it out there. It was beautiful.

We visited our families in Utah over labor day.

And there's Kaylee having her first experience on a scooter with her Uncle Brad. She put my mom's lipstick on earlier that day. Oh wow, we could not get that stuff of.

October...you never fail to make me happy!

Perceptions

2011-10-28T12:47:00.014-06:00

Perception. I love this word. It's the lens by which we see everything. Our perceptions determine how we see ourselves and those around us. Jared and I have talked a great deal about this idea the last week. It's been during those "pillow talks," those heart-to-heart moments when we've both realized that we don't always see things clearly, whether that be in reference to our relationship, the world and its problems, how other people choose to live their lives, and even certain aspects of the gospel. He sees things one way, I see them another. In many ways we agree, in some we don't, and there are some things we may never agree upon. It's like this with anyone we interact with, especially those we are closest to. So lately Jared and I have found ourselves asking "what is really real?" How do I know whether or not my perception of someone or something is accurate? I suppose that's why this scripture has become most meaningful:

"...for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are and of things as they really will be..."

Jacob 4:13 (emphasis added)

Aside from the discussions that Jared and I have had that have brought this subject to my mind I also came across something else that brought this all together for me. A friend posted an internet article about a public high school in New York and its material for sex education next year. It includes far more details and ideas than any high school kid should be exposed to, or anyone for that matter, and way oversteps the boundaries of intimacy as being something sacred and divinely given. It includes more than I was ever taught or exposed to. This was one father's response:

"I think it's a good idea," he told the station. "They're going to have sex. They know it exists. Teaching them about it in my mind doesn't sanction it or encourage it."

I don't think this father has an understanding of how this perception of kids today, particularly his own for whom he has the greatest influence, will have an impact on them as to the choices they make. Today I just read this:

"In the eyes and attitudes of the parents and teachers who raise and educate them, children find mirrors through which they define themselves (71)."

Raising Self-Reliant Children In A Self-Indulgent World

Glenn and Nelson

The book went on to explain that children largely see themselves as a result of how those closest to them treat them, whether it be to treat them "as they really are" or not. I combined that thought with the New York father's incorrect and damaging view of kids and their use of sex. Because he believes most kids will sleep around, regardless of what they're taught, his actions toward them will reflect that belief. Perhaps it's true. Lots of kids will sleep around no matter what....but what about the one? Perhaps there may be a sixteen year old boy out there for whom, a belief in—or against—him and his ability to be chaste may be what makes all the difference between a correct or an incorrect choice.

"Stand up for integrity in your business, in your profession, in your home, in the society of which you are a part. Again, it is not enough that you retreat to your private cloister and pursue only your special interests. Your strong voice is needed. The weight of your stance may be enough to tip the scales in the direction of truth."

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Stand Up For Truth, BYU devotional on 17 September 1996

As I grew up I was surrounded by people who constantly re-affirmed the pure Gospel truths. I learned them from family, church leaders, friends, and teachers, to name a few. I was taught that we are children of God, that our bodies are divinely given, that intimacy is sacred, and that as hard as it may be to stay chaste, it was possible.....I could make it. I learned to see myself this way because others believed in me. As a result I also recognized that Heavenly Father believed in me.

Although there are countless things I still don't know, and things I think I know but later find out were perceived incorrectly, there are some things I do know, things I've come to see "as they really are," which experience we are all able to have if we look through the right lens.

A thought on modesty

2011-09-26T05:27:00.004-06:00

For Strength of Youth:

"Your body is God's sacred creation. Respect it as a gift from God, and do not defile it in any way. Through your dress and appearance you can show the Lord that you know how precious your body is...The way you dress is a reflection of what you are on the inside.

Servants of God have always counseled his children to dress modestly to show respect for him and for themselves. Because the way you dress sends messages about yourself to others and often influences the way you and others act, you should dress in such a way as to bring out the best in yourself and those around you. However, if you wear an immodest bathing suit because it's "the style," it sends a message that you are using your body to get attention and approval, and that modesty is not important."

I believe in modesty. This is an issue I've been taught since I was a little girl and something that's very important to me, especially now that I have two little girls that I have teach these principles to. I believe it's important to respect our bodies by wearing clothes that cover us appropriately. It’s an issue of showing respect not only for ourselves and also for others. It adds to, instead of taking away from, our relationship with those we interact with. When I've come across this scripture it's always been interesting to me:

"and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely."

Alma 1:27

The dictionary definition of "comely" says "goodlooking." I love this! So we can make ourselves attractive while still maintaining a sense of decency and propriety, in spite of the clothing and bathing suit trends of our day. A lesson I learned in regards to this occurred at BYU-Idaho, while I was working at the testing center. At this job it was stressed that we lived up to a professional and modest dress code so that we could maintain a high level of learning and atmosphere within the school. I did my best and always considered myself modest in dress anyway so I didn't give it much thought. After a month or so of working there the manager, an older lady, pulled me aside in her office and asked me to look at how I was dressed. They had a full-length mirror in the office and she turned me around to see myself. She lovingly told me that she felt my shirt was a little on the edge for our standards at the school because it was capped sleeve, somewhat in between sleeveless and a tiny little sleeve. I had never recognized it before. It had never bothered me before until then. I was so embarrassed and went home and cried and thought about it the rest of the night. But she was right. I went back the next day, hugged her, and thanked her for her honesty with me, for teaching me in such a gentle way, and for helping me learn something important that I had missed. I will never forget that lesson. I then went through what I had considered already "modest" clothes and threw out ones that would leave anyone in question as to my dress standard. Throughout the years since I've been so grateful for my experience with that dear lady in the Testing Center.

"It is impossible to expect a child who has been taught to love to dress in the immodest style trends of the day, to then change overnight to an entirely different wardrobe when they enter a Church university or a missionary training center, or when they are married in the temple, or even when they dress for the Sabbath day. Modest, proper styles must be taught almost from birth."

Elder L. Tom Perry (Ensign, Nov. 1988, 75)

Before Kaylee was born Jared and I talked about baby swimsuits. I asked him what he thought of putting our soon to arrive little baby girl in a baby bikini. I don't like bikinis but they're not too bad if it's just on a baby, right? We talked about it and he seemed hesitant. We then wondered that if we let our little girls wear bikinis when they were 6 months, then a year old, then five years old, at what point did we pull them aside and teach them that it was all of a sudden immodest? We thought about it for a while and together we realized, no, it does't matter the age, modesty is modesty. I was so impressed with my younger brother Jason, being about seventeen at the time, when we put Kaylee in a two piece swimsuit around the house for a few minutes. A neighbor had given us a bunch of hand-me downs and we wanted to see what this little two piece looked like on her with her cute big belly poking out. When he walked in the room he looked at her and said "Uh-oh Kristen, you can't let her wear that. It's not modest." I laughed and said we were just playing around but he picked her up, hugged her, and talked to baby Kaylee about modesty. I was so impressed that my younger brother instantly knew and understood something about the principle of modesty, and made a stand for it, even in our own home. As a new mom I have learned repeatedly this counsel: Teach them when they're young.

I have learned again the importance of modesty in our dress and bathing suits while being in Texas, in a state that is sweltering hot a good portion of the year, and makes you wish you could walk around naked sometimes. We have a pool view from our apartment and although it is a beautiful view, it was difficult over the summer to see mostly naked bodies laying out sunbathing and swimming all the time from my own home, especially with Kaylee watching.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Of all creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth."

"Our Responsibility to Our Young Women," (Ensign, Sept. 1988, 11)

I believe in the standards of modesty... I love it! I have felt of its protection. I know it’s not popular and I have long since learned to be ok with that. I know it’s inconvenient sometimes, especially in Texas where this weather is just killing me (oh Idaho, I miss you so....). I know it takes some work to find a decent one or two piece swimsuit...been there, done that, will do it again someday. You may or may not think it makes much of a difference to be modest, especially when swimming....it does. People notice. I notice. I have a husband. I have brothers. I have a dad. I have brother-in-laws. I care about these men in my life. When we dress modestly it helps all of us keep our thoughts where they belong. It helps create a level of respect that ought to always be there.

Happy Sabbath!

2011-06-19T17:47:00.001-06:00

Here is a beautiful thought for your Sabbath day. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l70e1TfN34w

so...

2011-06-09T10:54:00.002-06:00

Ok, I can't help it. I've watched this four times today, dancing and singing along to the music. I'm sure I'll turn it on one more time and Kaylee, Ashlyn, and I will dance to it again. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

2011-06-04T06:08:00.002-06:00

I always post a lot of pictures, but we're far away from family so they probably prefer to see pictures than read.

Kaylee is so good at making Ashlyn laugh. I love to catch it!

Memorial day weekend BBQ with Jared's brother, Mark, his roommate, and our friends from our BYU-Idaho days.

For memorial day weekend/Jared's birthday we stayed overnight with friends at a Timeshare. We had a great time!

..and we played some crazy "minute-to-win-it" games.

(spitting garbanzo beans contest)

2011-05-17T19:41:00.005-06:00

Yesterday we celebrated Jared's 28th birthday. We decorated, made a cheesecake-cookie-chocolate type cake, went to Olive Garden (his favorite), talked to family, and then opened presents.

At Olive Garden...
Kaylee was less than thrilled, but she did like the "du-raw" (straw).
This is what our days consist of as of late...so far not too bad. She makes it in the potty about twice a day and then twice on the floor. Odds are at 50/50 which...we're working on.

This is how my baby sleeps. It makes me nervous. She won't fall asleep without pulling something over her face. Sometimes I go in her room and she's pulled the bassinet blanket thing even more over her face and pulled another blanket clear on top of herself so that when I go in and check on her I can't see a single part of her body.

My little girls...it's so fun to be a mom of two girls!

Mother's day flowers. It's a shame they won't last forever. In fact, they're almost dead right now.
Kaylee loves to help me clean.
Kaylee is now in a toddler bed, oh and sometimes her crib if she doesn't stay in her bed the first time. The other night I went into her room before I went to sleep and this is what I found:

Making strawberry jam!
We took a boat ride down the San Antonio riverwalk.

and last but not least, bath time after swimming with dad.

A little baby powder love

2011-04-29T13:23:00.005-06:00

Oh dear, don't turn your back...

not for a moment.

even if you're only going to the next room.

As you can see, one picture of it just isn't enough!

Well Ashlyn, Kaylee was lovin' that baby powder a little too much. So we went out for a walk and a swim.

About time for some pictures

2011-04-25T15:13:00.012-06:00

One time when Jared and I went to my family's house over the weekend, a year or so ago, they all shared their "Roses, Buds, and Thorns," over Sunday dinner. The "rose" was the good part of the day, "bud" was something you were looking forward to, and "thorn" is the not so great part of the day. I loved it, so....

Our Roses:

-I learned how to cook black beans from scratch. This is a big deal to me because I buy endless cans of them and have done so since Jared and I got married. One of my friends in the ward learned how to cook them and this motivated me to. They are SO much better than canned beans, not only nutritionally but they taste better AND I love the feeling that I can do it on my own. No more relying on expensive cans of beans (in comparison to bagged beans, my goodness).

-For the last month Ashlyn has been sleeping through the night from 7 pm or so until about 7:30 am (every now and then she has a little snack around 9 pm, but this is not the norm) This is heavenly, as you can imagine (thank you "Baby-Wise," by Ezzo). Some people love it and others don't, but hey, if your baby is sleeping like that and has been almost since she was two months old, how can you not love it?

-Jared has a good job and he really enjoys it. In todays economy this is a tremendous blessing and we're thankful.

-I made graham crackers and wheat thins. This has been on my to-do list for a very long time. Wow, the graham crackers were "wildly successful," (as quoted by Jared) and the wheat thins were pretty good. I don't know if I'd make the wheat thins again but definitely the graham crackers...wow. When you're a stay-at-home mom this is the kind of stuff you do to find fulfillment. Really though, I absolutely love finding new things to create.

-We had one of the most beautiful days a week or so ago. It was perfect weather, in my book, no humidity, a light breeze, sun, and a beautiful out-door mall that I took Kaylee and Ashlyn to. I soaked up every single moment of it, knowing that it won't last too much longer.

-I've been studying nutrition. I read the book "Master you Metabolism" by Jillian Michaels. Phenomenal, that's all I can say.

-We finally bought a new mattress. Ours was so old and Jared's body was aching because of it. He's much happier with our new one.

-Kaylee now has conversations with me. This has made being a mom really fun. We don't always understand one another but we do our best. She is so polite. We have worked really hard at teaching her to say "please," and "thank you." It has really paid off. She says it on her own now so well and it makes me such a proud mom.

-Jared's brother, Mark, is coming for an internship at USAA, in about a month. We really love Mark and are so excited to have him here. Yea for family!

-We love our little girls a lot. They make us so happy (and so tired)

-Jason has been on his mission for over two months! Yea for missionaries...

-And, I love Jared... a lot. There, that's something to be very happy about.

-I have made friends with some wonderful girls in the ward here. Every Tuesday we have our "homemade Tuesday," time. We pick something we want to make and meet up at someone's house around 11 am and have fun making it. We've made ice cream, laundry detergent, mozzarella cheese, salsa, tortillas, bread, all sorts of things. It's fun getting together. We also take our kids around to each others pools (people swim a lot here in Texas..hot humid weather will do that to you).

-I also love it that whenever I start cooking dinner or baking something Kaylee runs over and says "make, make." This is what she says when she wants to help me make something. So we pull up a chair and she stirs, mixes, and creates yummy things right alongside me. I'm learning to relax about how much of a mess it creates. I want her to remember cooking and making messes with her mom in the kitchen like I remember doing so with my mom.

Rub a dub dub
Isn't that such a clever easter cake? I thought it was adorable.

Easter egg hunt with other little girls in the ward

Making home-made ice cream with my friends and the kids. It's the kind that you shake around in a bad full of salt and ice.

Our Buds:

- I look forward to (and also dread) the day Kaylee is potty-trained. I keep putting this off.

-Going to Europe in 2013. Ang and Austin decided to save up for it and they'll be done with school at that point. We asked if they wouldn't mind the company (Jared's never been and I'm just itching to go again). My parents may come with us too. Ah! So we're going to save up for it these next two years.

-Seeing Jared after work today.

-Fall. I'm already looking forward to that around here in San Antonio.

Caught in the act of licking the bowl!

This was that perfect day at the out-door mall.

Our Thorns:

-Summer is nigh upon us around here. I'm not looking forward to being here in the summer. That being said, I am SO thankful for AC!

-Flies. When these Texas flies get in your house they do not want to leave. We don't get a lot, but when we get one it's a lot of work to chase it around and swat it.

-It's sad not to go out and take walks like I used to all the time. It's starting to get too muggy, plus I don't live in an area like I used to where I could get out and walk to the library, the store, all over compus, to friend's homes, anywhere. You have to drive to get where you want to go.

-Sometimes (a lot of the time) being a mom is just plain exhausting.

Samoa cupcakes. Oh delicious! It was one of my friend's birthdays so we had a picnic outing and brought these along.

Girls night out during priesthood session. Kaylee was loving that ice cream cone.
April Fools cupcakes. Popcorn, peas and carrots, spaghetti, and mashed potatoes.

So these are some of the goods and the not so goods in our life right now...but I'm happy to say that it's mostly good.

Let's play catch up

2011-03-18T15:02:00.008-06:00

Today we went to the park by our house and had breakfast.

A few weekends ago we went downtown San Antonio and saw this beautiful little Japanese Garden.

And then we took a train ride around the park, which Kaylee loved.

She's in heaven.

Hawaii date night at the Cook house. Since we can't go to Hawaii I thought I'd bring Hawaii to us. Aloha!

Hmm....Waikiki meatballs, rice, sweet rolls, and spinach fruit salad followed by almond fruit bread. Oh yum, was that worth the time it took to make it!
We took our friends to visit the Japanese Gardens when they came to stay with us.

Isn't it gorgeous!

Whoa, little crooked neck there.
Happy Birthday Kaylee. Two years old, we just can't believe it. Can you believe what this modern technology allows us to do? We even played a card game with my sister and her husband on skype, them in Rexburg, us in San Antonio. It's amazing we can do this sort of stuff, don't you think.
That is an eight layer cake. Lots of lovin' and time went into this cake for Kaylee.

And another year for our traditional valentines day dinner. We always stay at home and have dinner and invite someone or a couple over to join us. This year our friends we invited weren't able to make it so we had to do it alone.

I love to bake. I love, love, love it. I get this urge to make stuff, lots of stuff, anything good, all the time, on a daily basis. I have a wish list written on my fridge of all these yummy desserts, breads, main dishes, and snacks I can't wait to make. Aren't these big kisses fun! I found this idea on http://www.bakerella.com/for-valentines-day-give-someone-a-big-kiss/ (same blog for the eight layer cake). I do make healthy things, even though there aren't pictures of them, but, let's be honest here, who wants pictures of spinach when you can take a picture of this!

This life we live

2011-02-24T19:12:00.008-07:00

My oh my, what big eyes you have Ashlyn

Saying goodbye to Jason before he left for his mission and we left for Texas.

So I'm not very good at this blogging thing...big surprise. When I have something I can't wait to say I write about it in my journal, good or bad, happy or sad. It's one of the most therapeutic things I've discovered in my life, thanks to my 12th grade english teacher that required us to keep a journal my entire senior year. It's changed my life and I'm now on my 12th journal. Thank you Mrs...? Oh I can't remember your name, but you changed my life. So when I do write something on this blog it's usually when I feel happiest, which is why I probably always come across on this thing as a constantly happy person. When I need to vent my poor journal hears about it, or actually my poor husband, I should say, and then my journal.

In a Relief Society meeting not too long ago I made a comment about the struggle I have to overcome myself and my own weaknesses. After the meeting the lady sitting next to me said "wow, you always seem so put together though." Her comment made me think about life. I have my challenging days...yes, I definitely do. I feel just as insecure as the next person does. I remember growing up and being so anxious to go to college, serve a mission, get married, and have a family, and thinking that life would be so perfect. And then I went to college. I was so homesick the first semester and went home a lot. After that first semester though I fell in love with BYU-Idaho and never looked back, dreading the day I would have to graduate and leave. And then I dated Jared. Not at all a fairy tale story there, not like I'd always dreamed of. Jared and I have admitted this to ourselves a million times. It was a blast to date each other and we have some wonderful memories of that time, but oh wow, it was rough. It was so up and down, up and down, dating, not dating, dating, not dating, holding hands, not holding hands, would I serve a mission, not sure anymore but dating Jared, now not dating Jared (just for the record, this was mostly my fault it was so dramatic, not Jared's). But wow, what an important time in our lives for the both of us together.

And then I served a mission. All I can say is that it was the hardest thing I've ever done, and I mean brutally hard in all ways...emotionally, physically, and spiritually...I honestly thought I'd never make it through eighteen months of it day after day. But it was by far one of the single greatest blessings I have in my entire life.

And then I got married. That's been better than I ever thought but certainly not because marriage is a fairy tale like I dreamt of when I was little and watched "Beauty and the Beast." Marriage is just real life, plain and simple. You agree, then you don't agree, so you figure out how to agree. You work hard, play hard, laugh hard and cry hard with and for each other a lot. And then we started our family. I always thought being pregnant would be such a wonderful and rewarding experience. Um, not for me, I guess because I hate being pregnant. I just make it through one day at a time. And I don't even have it bad. I'm not too sick and I don't get too big, but that doesn't matter. I still struggle and cry a lot at night wondering how on earth I can make it through four more months, then three more months, then two more months, being pregnant. It's just uncomfortable, can't sleep, feel sick, clothes don't fit, I feel self-conscious, my skin breaks out, lots of pain, and I spend more time in the bathroom than anywhere else. I literally just grin and bear it and try to smile. I have to read a lot of talks from the Prophets where they talk about how motherhood is the noblest calling. This pumps me up, otherwise I just cry. But then the baby comes and that's it, your heart is wrapped around that baby forever. So now I'm a mom and it is the most incredibly rewarding experience I've had and am having, but, let's be honest here, it's totally exhausting. There is not one other thing I'd rather be doing than staying at home all day with my two little girls because I love it and them so much, but I have countless moments where I think "how can I go on?" And then I call my mom and cry for while, and somehow, because she made it I can too

My whole life I've always prayed that the Lord would send me out in the mission field, some where "out there" where there aren't so many members, where missionary work is desperately needed, where I can make a difference, so I can give my family a similar experience to what I had for ten years growing up in England. I've always dreamed of this, always, since I was a little girl. Then it happened.....what on earth was I thinking when I prayed for that? I didn't comprehend that I'd be giving up so much of what I love and am most comfortable with... all of my family, friends, people with similar values surrounding me everywhere, peace and tranquility, the beauty of Utah and Idaho, dry weather, nice cool beautiful falls and winters. I got what I dreamed of and now...? It's tough. I do not, I repeat, do not like hot weather. I do not like city life, I do not like dealing with traffic everywhere, and I love nature. So....here I am right in San Antonio, Tx, one of the biggest cities in the United states, nice and hot and humid. Just remember, I prayed for this, but not this at the same time. I can't tell you how many times I prayed and prayed, during this last fall semester, that Heavenly Father would please please please find somewhere else for us to be...but that was not His answer and so here I am, learning to find joy in living here.

So life is full of ups and downs. We take a big deep breath and go on. And yes, I am really, truly, deeply happy, in spite of it all.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most meat is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey....delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

And another year is here...

2011-01-04T08:22:00.003-07:00

Wow, three years! Can hardly believe, but yet I almost don't remember what it was like not to be married. It was Jared's year to plan what we were going to do to celebrate our anniversary. We went out to dinner at Wingers (a favorite of mine), and then he surprised me by taking us to the Hinckley building at BYU-Idaho, where there are couches near big windows that overlook campus. He brought blankets and his laptop and we watched "Counte of Monte Cristo." It was great fun. Jared felt bad that it didn't snow like it was supposed to. Originally he wanted to watch the movie outside (yes, outside in the freezing weather), in this little gazebo thing they have in the gardens on campus. There's an outlet plug inside the gazebo and he brought our electric blanket so we could plug it in, watch the movie, and enjoy the snow falling. Well, no falling snow but lots of wind so we opted for the beautiful view from the warm Hinckley building.

Ashlyn, what a joy! I didn't know I could love her so much. She has such big, beautiful eyes. And what a good little sleeper at night. She'll wake up once around 2-3 am for a quick little milky snack and then that's it. She'll sleep soundly until 7:30-8:00 (just fyi: if you really struggle to get your baby to sleep through the night read "On Becoming Babywise," by Ezzo or something like that. It has made all the difference for me and worked with Kaylee and seems to be working with Ashlyn. READ IT!). Anyway, I'm enjoying the newborn stage all over again, where I can just sit and hold my little baby all I want. And then I'm enjoying Kaylee and the crazy new words she says. She loves deodorant. She takes one of mine to bed and carries it around the house with her. Then she'll say "apit" and raise her arm up so we can put the deodorant on her. She keeps us in laughter around here (and in shape trying to chase her around the house). We love our little girls!

And now our days consist of getting ready to move to San Antonio, Tx. We are leaving Idaho around the end of January. Oh to enjoy the last of my winter days here...so so pretty. I will always think that snow is one of the most beautiful things.

We did it!

2010-12-25T21:47:00.003-07:00

After many years of being in school at BYU-Idaho we both graduated on Friday 17th December. Jared got his Bachelors degree in Computer Information Technology and I got mine in psychology, minoring in marriage and family studies. Jared's parents came up that week to celebrate with us and to meet Ashlyn, and my parents came up a bit later. What a busy month it's been, but what fun we've had...and what a way to end the year!

I had the chance to speak at graduation.

Ashlyn was blessed after our graduation, in my Grandma's home so that our family and Jared's parents could be there before taking off for home in Washington.

And now it's off to San Antonio soon....

Welcome Ashlyn!

2010-12-14T22:44:00.004-07:00

We are so happy she's here!

She was born on Monday 7th December, 2:47 am

8 lbs 6 oz, 21 inches

lots of hair

and we love her...

2010-12-06T19:42:00.005-07:00

I just can't find words to express how much I love this little girl, how much I care for her and want to teach her right. Today for Family Home Evening we watched the 5 min. nativity video put on by the church from the DVD that the missionaries give away for free. We learned about the Christmas story, how Jesus was born in a stable, and she loved that there were sheep there. Then we listened to a christmas song by the Mormon Tabernacle choir. She just sat quietly on my lap and let me hold her the whole way through. I can't explain how much I love teaching her about Jesus, how much I love it when she recognizes His picture and says "sesus." The greatest joy I have ever discovered is what I feel when we teach her about Him and how much He loves us. It's something I'd never felt until she came became a part of our family.

Almost there...

2010-11-19T21:21:00.004-07:00

Under three weeks and counting.

I can't believe I was smaller than this when Kaylee was born.

Our Halloween

2010-11-01T14:38:00.004-06:00

Here's a record of our spooky, halloween adventures this year. I love halloween, Fall, falling leaves, cool crisp air, orange, pumpkin muffins, the smell of apple cider, wearing jackets and my cinnamon candle burning. Can anything be better? Of course Jared would say that he could think of a lot of things (he's a summer person), but I'm sure eventually he'll come around. I can't complain at all thought because whenever I ask him to grab a jacket and take a walk with me and Kaylee (like I did today), he will always come, even though it is a bit cooler than he'd prefer. I'd take that over flowers anyday!

For halloween we went to my parents in Utah so we could take Kaylee trick-or-treating since there isn't much of that where my Grandma lives. What fun! Of course we had carmel popped corn and watched our families traditional disney halloween movies.

In backwards order, the picture above is the crew that came trick-or-treating with us. See...even college students want to feel the excitement of the holidays. You never grow of it, or some of us don't. There were seven of us out with Kaylee. Some people even gave us candy.

I love my little fairy. Wow, did she enjoy trick-or-treating, even though it was cold and had been raining before hand (which is why we skipped out on putting her white fairy, Sunday dress on underneath). Every door had a "doggie" and she would yell "doggie, doggie" and try to go inside the homes to see them. Once she realized she got candy at the doors she walked more quickly to the next door. I didn't know she could walk so fast. She loved it and we loved watching her enjoy it.

Jason, what a goof, but he had fun with us taking Kaylee around. She actually likes Jason now. She didn't for a while, but now they've been good friends.
(Jared secretly admitted that he's excited to eat her candy since....she won't really be eating it, right?)

Jared had to coach her through the pumpkin gutting process for a bit since she didn't like getting her hands icky. Once she got used to it though, she had no problem.
So with Fall and all that's apart of it, put together with these two people, I just couldn't be any happier.

p.s 5 1/2 weeks left and this baby's outta here. I'm praying for a week early vs. a week late. I'm done...very very done. No more room in there.

The Founding Fathers

2010-10-06T12:46:00.014-06:00

Declaration of Independence

John Trumball, 1819

Since we've been here in Idaho the last month I've found myself with a lot of time on my hands. Because of this I decided that it was time to learn more about the history of the United States and our Founding Fathers. Being here with Grandma also meant that we regularly watch Glenn Beck, so that of course added to my desire to learn more about our country. I picked up a book Grandma had been studying herself, entitled "The Making of AMERICA," by W. Cleon Skousen. I've been enthralled by it. I feel ashamed that for so many years I used the excuse of living in England and missing some of those vital history classes, as my reason for not knowing much about American history. It's incredible, and a miracle, to say the least, that our country ever became what it has, a land of liberty and religious freedom, with representation by the people and not a monarchy, as most of the world has known.

What impressed me most was what I came across last night when I was reading. I was learning about the miracle of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. After winning the revolutionary war our Founding Fathers recognized that our country would not survive unless it changed the Articles of Confederation and came up with a new system of government, different than any other country had known. 55 delegates from the states arrived to discuss the government. There was arguing and contention over what to do and it was difficult to come to any consensus. This went on for days. Finally, during one of those moments Benjamin Franklin arose and made this plea:

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need [His] assistance?

I have lived, sir, a long time; and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that 'except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel; we shall be divided by our little partial, local interests, our projects will be confounded and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages. And, what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war or conquest," (Skousen, 1985, p.159-160).

People may try to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance, from our currency, and out of the Declaration, forgetting that our unalienable rights come from our Creator. But when you sit down to study the principles this nation was founded on you have to recognize, like Benjamin Franklin said, "the superintending Providence in our favor." And no-one today can take away what happened during those beginning days.

Home in Idaho

2010-09-20T19:07:00.009-06:00

Idaho...it's my home, and I love it. Sometimes it makes me really sad that both Jared and I feel that we don't belong here long term. We've always felt that it's not the place where we will raise our family, Utah included. I think it is so beautiful here. People complain about the weather but I love it, snow and all. I love it even more after being in San Antonio. I never knew dry weather could make me so very happy. The first morning we arrived in Utah after our three day drive from Texas I went outside and breathed in the fresh, cool, crisp morning air...and I was happy, really really happy. I guess I'm my daddy's girl. He doesn't care much for hot summer weather and never has, just like me. He always says that September, when Fall begins to approach, is his reward for surviving June, July, and August. I couldn't agree with him more. Kaylee and I have enjoyed wandering around outside each day walking barefoot in the grass. You just don't do that in Texas. The grass hurts your feet. I love this weather! I can't explain why it makes me so happy but it just does.

So, we've been home a month. We are spending this last semester (Jared has one more class) at my Grandma's in Idaho. We couldn't bear the thought of moving all of our stuff into an apartment for four months, to start again in a new student ward, especially since it wouldn't be the one we left after 2 1/2 years, and then to have to pack and move out with a few weeks of having a newborn (due Dec 9th). I am NOT doing that. Some girls don't miss much of a beat after having a baby, but I needed a break...at least a 2-3 week one. I went to church and class really soon after but that was about all I could do. To have to pack everything up would do me in...so we're with my Grandma in her beautiful big home and enjoying it. We're so grateful to her because it's been a big help for us to be here, plus we just love her to bits.
We went to a fall festival this last week. Texas instilled in Kaylee a love of water, any water, so we had some fun

I went with my Grandma and Aunt Debi to the Blackfoot state fair a week or so ago. Kaylee gave lots of kisses to the goats.

On our way home to Idaho we stopped at Mesa Verde. So beautiful! We both said it was the best $21 we spent. We learned about the cliff dwellers, the homes they created, and how they lived among other things. Oh it was incredible.

Kaylee is my little gem. I can't think of anything I enjoy more in being a mom, than watching her learn. It's an incredible thing. If you watch you can see it, the process of their little brains working hard to figure things out, like how to make cow noises, how to point to parts of their body, how to put the laundry in the washer and then move it in the dryer, how to put away their dishes, how to fold their arms for prayer, and how to do so many different things. I sure love Miss Kaylee more than I thought I ever could.

You know what else? I sure love Jared more than I thought I could too. And you know why? Because even though being married isn't all flowers, romance, and dates all the time (like you imagine it from the disney movies as a little girl), it's fun being with my best friend, no matter how exciting or dull the days might be.

"Oh what do you do in the summertime..."

2010-08-05T09:56:00.005-06:00

So what do we do here in Texas? We spend a lot of it in doors in the wonderful AC, to be honest because it's so stinkin' hot, but we do get out and do things when we can. So here's a little record of what some of our days consist of.

We swim. Miss Kaylee sure likes it, especially with these little green floaty things. The other day she brought them to me in the house and wanted to wear them, so she walked around inside with her green floaties on.
Miss Kaylee and I love to cook together. Well actually, I love to cook/bake, but Kaylee joins me when I feel like cleaning up a bigger mess. She's getting the hang of it though, the more she does it. She likes to mix it up and then spoon whatever it is into her mouth...butter, butter and eggs, butter and eggs and sugar, whatever. It's all yummy to her.
We love rain and thunderstorms. She wanted outside so I let her go, clothes and all. She was d-r-e-n-c-h-e-d!
Kaylee gets stuck on the bed sometimes. Doesn't know whether to go up or down. I wait it out a bit to see what she'll do. Sometimes she braves letting go and sometimes she holds on for dear life and whimpers until mommy comes to rescue her.
We're in the make-up playing stage...
and the drawing on ourselves phase
So we take lots of baths to keep ourselves clean. Miss Kaylee and I go for a walk every morning, for about an hour, three miles or so. When we come back we are dripping so it's always bath time and shower time.
We explore lots in this house. This still remains her favorite cupboard.
Cookie dough...sugar cookies, lemon cookies, granola, homemade bread, banana muffins, chocolate chip cookies...it doesn't matter, she loves it all.
We get out and see things, like Dallas to visit Aunt Michelle and Uncle Craig, or Austin to visit one of Jared's old roommates' and his wife.
We have friends over and we eat! Breakfast for dinner is probably the most popular in the Cook house.
Sometimes when we want to brave being outside for a long time we take picnics or visit the park. Then we look like this after a while.
We went to a cute little town called "Fredericksburg." The Texans love Texas, can you tell...
And then we always make time to play with big 'ol Gus. Kaylee loves this dog to bits. I will not ever have a dog...ever, so I hope this is enough for Kaylee. I'm not a dog person, not at all, not even a little bit. I won't do it. Jared wants a dog, I really don't like or care for them, call me a not nice person, I don't care, I don't ever want a pet, but specifically not a dog. But, saying that, I enjoy the way Kaylee loves that dog.

So that's what we do around here.

2010-07-16T12:07:00.012-06:00

2 Nephi 5:27
"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

I came across this scripture this morning and thought it was beautiful. Last night I went to bed earlier than normal and laid there for a while, counting my blessings...and I counted so many that I couldn't stop the tears. I thought back on my time growing up in England, living in Utah, my family life, Davis High school, friends, colorguard, going to BYU-Idaho, specific classes and specific teachers which changed me. I thought back on ward callings I'd been given, people that were in my life at a certain time, when I met and dated Jared, serving a mission, getting married, having a baby, more people, and everything which brought me to the point where I was on my bed, staring up at the ceiling last night, feeling grateful because I knew that Heavenly Father had led me through it all, through every step I'd ever taken. How I love Him! My heart is so full. I am richer than Kings! Life is filled with people, purpose, and meaning. And I'm happy to live everyday I've been given.

Our life in a lil' motel, far away from home, out in the heat, oh what joys!

2010-07-02T19:58:00.009-06:00

I love this little face...those big blue eyes, curly hair full of hairlights (only curly in Texas though), cute little smirk, such a people-personality. After experiencing being a mom for almost a year and a half I now know why God made babies so cute....because they are hard work! Any parent out there reading this KNOWS what I'm saying, right? This thought has run in my mind so many times when changing diaper after diaper, laundry after laundry, food on the floor, food on my dress as we're walking out the door, energy to play when I'm exhausted, tugging at my knees when I'm cooking dinner..."well Miss Kaylee, I'm glad you're so cute because if not this job wouldn't be worth it." I love being her mom. What fun we have together. She is my little bud day in and day out.

Something that's so important to me is to have control in my life... to be organized, clean, on time, put together, and everything that goes along with that. I lost a big part of that when I became a mom and I spend so much time during every day trying to get it back. And it does come back....for moments at a time...oh and it's wonderful, like when the house is completely clean and organized, when we are able to be on time or early to something (no unexpected dirty diapers, messy clothes....), when I look down at my clothes and I'm clean with no food on me from little fingers, when the laundry and dishes are all done and nothing is waiting for me to get to it. BUT, I am learning something here in this ride we call "motherhood." I'm learning to let the laundry stay undone just a little longer without fretting, to let Kaylee's food on my clothes not bother me so much, to not worry if my hair doesn't look just like I want it to because I didn't have the time that day, and if I don't get everything done that day I needed to, I'm learning to say it's ok...because I played with my little girl, I read her a book, we went swimming, I read my scriptures and prayed, we took a long walk, we sat down at the table and had dinner with dad and enjoyed being together, and we ended the day together by reading and praying before Miss Kaylee's bedtime. My joys in life are changing, and change is a good thing.

After that note, here are some pictures of what the first month in San Antonio was like. We were living in a 400 sq. foot motel, one bedroom but not even because there was a big opening so you could swing the TV stand to face the bedroom or living room, we had little millipedes that liked to visit, neighbors that liked to smoke, and mold living in our AC unit. I didn't know why my allergies were so bad that whole month until I saw them clean out our unit a few days before we moved out. Below is a moderate picture of it. This isn't even bad. The guy had taken it out to clean it and this is what was left. I almost died when I saw what we had been breathing in for a month...it was foul. Anyway, we took this little motel because we really had few other options. We only needed a place for just over two months, with furniture. We couldn't find that anywhere, only three month leases with prices jacked up because it was a short term lease (we only needed it for just over two months), and no furniture. They don't do furnished apartments here like up at BYU-Idaho. So this was our best option. We didn't have to sign a contract but could leave whenever we had stopped paying till. We just had no idea it would be so stinky and gross. BUT, with that in mind, I wouldn't take back our experience there. I enjoyed swimming with Kaylee all the time, taking walks and seeing the same little Korean family also taking a walk, I really liked the ward after only three weeks and was sad to stop going there, I liked living so close in the city to so many things at my finger tips, and...what an experience after all! Living in a tiny motel...it was crazy but another one of those chapters in my life.

I'll have to post pictures of the place we're staying at now. We're house sitting this beautiful, big, new house on the outskirts of the city. Wow, what a difference living somewhere clean and with space makes. I'm so grateful!

We went to Sea World two weeks ago. We almost died! Do you have any idea how hot and humid it can get here from 2-5pm? Well, let me just say that Jared and I both wished we weren't there until we decided to jump in the kid water place with all of our regular clothes on. We were so miserable with sweat dripping down every inch of our body that we didn't care anymore...so we soaked ourselves...and oh it felt great! That's how you do it. You go to Sea World, get right in the water, and stay wet the rest of the day. Then you don't notice the humidity because you're wetter than the air.

For Father's day it has become a tradition for me to get Kaylee up and we make cinnamon rolls for breakfast. She had a blast "helping" me.
Can you see why I said I love this face! This is what I see almost all the time with her. What a happy little girl.

Yes, I'm here...but not here, in Texas!

2010-06-23T16:48:00.007-06:00

Four months later, I know, and much has happened in that time. Let's see, Kaylee turned one on February 22nd and we had fun celebrating that. For her birthday I put a new little outfit on her and we watched "Mulan," (this is a treat since she hardly watches TV or movies), she helped me make her birthday cake, and then later we had family over and let her devour her little chunk of it. Yes, my little girl is one.

Another bit of news for you. We are expecting baby #2. What fun, what fun, at least now that the second trimester has been rolling along nicely. Four months along and I feel happy never to have thrown up during the first trimester. Sorry, but I am not a pregnant belly picture taker. I can't do it. I get so self-conscious. I took three, I think, when I was pregnant with Kaylee, and those was only at the request of sibling missionaries and family (not three pictures total but three specifically of the pregnant belly...covered, mind you). Some people say pregnant women look beautiful. I think so, until that pregnant person is me. At this point there is nothing to show yet. I'm happy to wait a long time until the pregnancy clothes have to come. But we are excited for this other little one to come along and join our family.

What else...well, Jared was finally released as Elder's quorum president around the end of March, which, I was so sad about at the time since I loved going to Ward council meetings, discussing things and working with him at church, but later was a huge blessing because a few weeks later he suddenly became so busy with work and finishing the semester that some nights he never came to bed. He would be up all night reading, studying, finishing projects etc...That last month in March was rough for us. Then I realized what perfect timing the Lord has in our lives, not only for callings and certain chapters in our lives, but also for the time when we're released and those chapters are over.

We had originally planned on graduating and leaving Rexburg in April but felt that we needed to be where we were at one more semester, putting us at leaving around August or so. I took another class for fun and Jared had two more left so that was the plan. In early March Jared flew out to San Antonio, TX for an internship interview with USAA (insurance co.). We were told that we would know in a few weeks whether or not he got the internship. We heard nothing. We called and still heard nothing. So we decided he didn't get it...In the middle of May we got a call early morning from USAA apologizing for some type of a mix up and that they would like Jared to be there in Texas ready to start work on June 1st. Well! Ok then. We were flying out the next day for one week to be in Seattle with Jared's family...so that gave us six days when we got home to be packed, moved, and on our way to Texas. I've never done anything quite like that before. If we couldn't sell our apartment contract asap we were looking at losing a lot of money there, I had a schooling bill come up due to leaving during the semester so we were looking at losing money there too, we had to get our car fixed, go to the Dentist, figure out Dr.'s, insurance, I had to tell the Bishop to find a new R.S president immediately, we had to say goodbye to our friends, family, and home for the last four plus years....plus pack and move. We prayed, and we prayed hard those first few days. It's amazing, but everything worked out perfectly. Within a few days we got a call from a family who needed an apartment close to campus immediately. Great! My schooling bill was figured out and we lost no money there, and we fixed our car, and managed to get everything taken care of.

At first Jared and I worried so much about whether or not this was the right decision. He had just received another job offer to stay in Rexburg for another year or so. It would have been so easy to stay. We were comfortable and happy, yet we felt it was something we needed to do. I was very hesitant to call the Bishop and tell him I was leaving within the week and that he needed a new R.S president. I finally called. He said he had felt that it was coming and already knew who would replace me when that time came . When I heard that I knew it was our time to leave and close this chapter of our lives in Rexburg, at BYU-Idaho, just like it was when Jared was released a few months before. I realized again, that the moments in our lives are so carefully planned out and known before they even happen, if we are doing our part. So we said our goodbyes and closed that chapter, so grateful for our time there, leaving with no regrets.

And here we are! We made it. As you can see by Kaylee's red sweaty face, it is hot and humid in San Antonio. My mom came down to help us out and it was wonderful to have her with us for the first almost week. We went down the Riverwalk...Fabulous!! It's a river with a walk on both sides and restaurants all over, weddings going on, pigeon feedings, a theater, all sorts. It's fantastic.

This is us trying to help Kaylee feed the pigeons. She loved it. What an experience she had...even though she sweat like she never has before, along with all of us.

The pictures below are from our trip in Seattle, visiting Jared's family.

(Below): We took a tour of the Seattle underground...interesting history. I was worried about Kaylee because it was down in the ground and pretty dark. Thank goodness Uncle Bryan brought rootbeer candy otherwise we would have been done for. She just kept popping them in and that was that.

One night we ate dinner with the family by the beach. We had fish and chips. Hmmm! Reminded me of England. I loaded the chips with vinegar and it was perfect. That's a big thing in England. The fish and chips are wrapped in newspaper or some other type of white paper, with the smell of salt and vinegar oozing out. Oh so good.

What goodlooking boys!
..and a very happy mom

We celebrated Jared's 27th birthday out there. Mom Cook whipped up a German chocolate cake, my favorite, and we sure enjoyed it together.

That's it for today folks, for those of you who hung in there. If I posted more often my posts wouldn't be so long. I'll write soon and tell of life in San Antonio. Until then, enjoy the dry climate for me...I miss it so!
p.s Jason, I counted 150 eyelashes on my right eye, just so you know

(believe me?)

2010-02-09T10:11:00.005-07:00

If you have not seen "Butterfly Circus" please follow the link below and watch it. It's about 20 minutes long. It's a beautiful reminder of the worth of souls, regardless of size, shape, or challenges. My teacher showed it to us in my Family Stress and Coping Class and it really touched me. I've watched it four times or so now. I hope you enjoy it as much I do.

www.thedailyinspired.com

2010-02-07T19:57:00.013-07:00

Here is an update from the Cook home. We are happy and love love LOVE our bigger apartment. We are so grateful to have two bedrooms now and yet still be in the same ward (in our 90 apt. complex there are only two two-bedroom apts). Our time at this place we love so much is soon coming to an end......but not yet, and we're still glad to be here for this last little bit of time, which is at least until August or so. As you can see from above Kaylee really likes helping mommy cook. When I'm baking she often crawls over to my feet and kind of tugs on my legs or looks up at me with that inquisitive face, letting me know that she wants in on the good stuff. It's fun to have her help, regardless of the mess I have to clean up afterwards.
I had my 25th birthday last week. A quarter of a century, can you believe! Jared had one of my good friends get me out of the house and so we went and made some yummy bread at her place. She dropped me off and when I came home Jared had dinner cooking. I was so impressed. I love surprises and he pulled a good one. He baked chicken cordon bleu from scratch (I've told him that's his specialty now, that's how fantastic it tasted), with cheese sticks and home made steak fries. It was a neat surprise. I think the Cook birthday tradition is to eat dinner on the living room floor, or at least we've done that with the birthdays we've had since we got married. He started it last year when he made dinner for me and set the table on the floor and then I did it for his, he did it for mine . . . . I'm glad he started that tradition. Now I need some good ideas for his birthday (May 16th).

These are our good friends, Luke and Mary Alley. We lived below them before we switched apartments in December. We spend a lot of time together and always have a good laugh together. It's funny but Luke is Jared's 1st counselor in the Elders Quorum Presidency and Mary is my 1st counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. I know those are rare circumstance but it has definitely been the right thing and we've grown to love them so much as we've served with them and played together.
I wanted you to know that I made this bagel from scratch. Isn't it beautiful...looks just like one from the store, don't you think! I'm really into making what things I can from scratch and I enjoy tackling new food projects. It was delicious and I don't think I'll buy bagels again from the store. It's cheaper and easy to make at home. I had fun making wheat bagels, white bagels, and cinnamon raisin bagels. Now I make a bunch, freeze them, and then when Jared wants one for lunch all he has to do is toast it. I think it's become a hobby to make things on my own...it gives me a sense of purpose and accomplishment to do things like this for my little family, especially when I see how much Jared loves something I took the time to make.....don't worry though, I definitely have my failures. A few weeks ago I made some pumpkin potato soup. Doesn't that sound good on a cold, snowy winter night? I thought so. It was disgusting, just uneatable. Kaylee liked it and it was really healthy so I kept giving it to her. I gave some to Jared and after one bite I knew there was no way he was going to eat more. Oh, I felt sad about that, taking all that time to make it only to have it taste so bad. Why did it taste so bad, you ask? I don't know, I just blame it on the recipe :->. Well to be funny I told Mary Alley about it and we decided to play a trick on her husband. Luke is quite the teaser himself so we thought this would be funny to pull on him. I gave her the soup and she was going to pretend that she made it that night for dinner and tell Luke how good it was before he ate any. Well when he took a bite she said his comment was "are you kidding me?" (or something to that effect). Of course she started laughing and gave up the joke. Oh what a good joke that was because if you had tasted that soup you'd be sorry if you had to take a bite of it.
This is Kaylee's little buddy Hyrum. I spend Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 with one of my good friends Annie and her little boy (she's the one who showed me how to make the yummy homemade bread on my birthday). It's fun to have time to get out of the house and be with a friend who has a little one the same age as Kaylee. I've learned that being a mom is more fun and enjoyable if you find ways to get out of the house and get involved in different things, like being with friends who have kids the same age, taking walks, playgroups, teaching each other fun things that you've learned at home (like the bread..and I taught another friend how to make bagels...that was fun). I just can't be at home everyday all day without going anywhere. I go stir crazy. I have to get out and go someone at least once a day. I think it's good for Kaylee to get out and be around other people a lot too and I like taking her places with me so she can be around other little kids, grownups, whatever. I think it makes a big difference and it makes being a mom even more fun!

We didn't have a bathtub in our last apartment and so we thoroughly enjoy having one now. Kaylee really likes baths and so she gets them a lot. She has a good time and if she's ever grumpy for whatever reason, a bath seems to help most everytime (unless she's sick and then I thank heaven for baby ibuprofen).
Jared taught Kaylee how to flush the toilet. One night when we were on the couch we heard this little clunk clunk clunk and we started laughing because we realized that Kaylee was pulling on the toilet handle but couldn't pull it down the entire way to flush it. Jared ran in and taught her how and now she's mastered that little skill. Oh she gets so excited when she flushes the toilet. Her little hands wave in the air, her face lights up, and life is wonderful for her at that moment. One day mommy will potty train Kaylee and then won't that be something to celebrate...Let's hope she finds that just as exciting.

I thought this was adorable. I love cleaning, weird I know, but it relieves stress for me and I just enjoy it so Kaylee has seen me scrub all sorts of things. A few weeks ago she grabbed a towel on the floor and went around scrubbing the fridge, the cupboard, and then to the oven. It was so cute. I realized how aware she is of me and what she sees me do.

See, when I see this beautiful face look up at me it makes me happy. Little Kaylee we love you

I took this picture of my little sister Kimberly at Angie's wedding. Isn't it beautiful! I think it's the best picture of her I've ever seen. Ang got married on January 5th and everything turned out better than I ever thought it would. Two ladies in my mom's ward offered to decorate the chapel for the reception and oh wow, they transformed that place into something stunning. I was so impressed.
The picture above is of the Mckeen girls, the newly added brother-in-law Austin and our neighbors Becky and Audrey. We've been friends with them since we moved to Farmington twelve years ago.

Ok, you see these cakes...I made them. Yep, that's right. I expended a lot of time and energy but it was fun! I used to make and decorate cakes at Cold Stone and I had a ball. I would go back to doing that any day. Since I worked there I had always wanted to make Ang's cake so I was glad she let me. This is as close of a shot as I would take because there were definitely flaws but for a first try what can you expect? Now I know what I'd do differently next time, if there is a next time. The flowers are what made it look beautiful though. Thank you flower lady!
The pictures below are of the dinner we had the night before Ang and Austin got married.

And to end this long post here's a quote Brad sent me on his mission and one I have looked at often as a good reminder. Until I post next...have a beautiful day!

President Gordon B. Hinckley
"Rejoice in the privilege[s] which [are] yours. Your opportunities will not last forever. Too soon there will be only the memory of the great experience[s] you are now having. None of us will accomplish all we might wish to, but let us do the best we can."

2009-12-27T20:15:00.029-07:00

I dedicate this entry to my favorite, one and only Aunt Debi. The only reason I'm posting anything is because she reminds me quite often that I need to update this blog. I love writing in my journal. It's one of my favorite things to do, but I do not feel the same about keeping an online journal. It's just not the same thing to me, plus it's so difficult for me to work out the writing and where the pictures go, it takes forever to download....what work! So I really have to have motivation in order to post anything on here. Thanks Aunt Debi for the motivation...for that reason this post is dedicated to you!

Where to begin.....well, we're moving! Actually, to state it correctly, we have moved. Yes, we moved out of our dear little #601 apartment a few days before Christmas. We loved it there...two years, what fun we had, but 495 square feet will only work so long with a little baby crawling around. The last two months it finally got to the point that I couldn't handle Kaylee in our room at night anymore and I wanted to train her to sleep through the night without waking up and needing mommy and food. We started moving her play pen out in the living room at night. I slept much better once we did that because I stopped waking up to her little whimpers here and there. If she ever woke up in the night I would go in and stroke her forehead and talk to her for a bit and then let her put herself back to sleep, but I never put her to sleep myself. In my parenting class I learned that it's important to help your kids learn to soothe themselves so they can learn to handle their emotions instead of expecting mom to come and make everything alright when the tears come. After two months of doing this many times it is now paying back. She no longer wakes up during the night and wants to be fed. I get a wonderful nights rest and if she does ever start to cry she quickly puts herself back to sleep. The work was worth it.

Going back to moving...I've never ever cleaned so hard in all my life. It took me three entire days to scrub every inch of that tiny place. I left it as clean and polished as I possibly could and by the time I was done I was spent with no energy left. I don't ever want to move again. Yikes! We're moving across the street (we don't move far do we!) into a two bedroom apartment and boy are we excited. We'll stay in the ward, which we're so grateful for. Jared and I are still enjoying our callings, which continue to keep us ever busy, especially when the semesters change, which happens every 13 weeks...new callings within the R.S and priesthood, re-arranging home and visiting teaching, meetings and more meeting, and visiting the new couples that move into the ward. We have about 80 couples in our ward and every thirteen weeks at least 1/3 if not 1/2 move out...crazy busy but what fun! (most of the time).

It's been wonderful to take a break from everything and spend Christmas with my family. We went sledding on Christmas Eve and Kaylee even went a couple of times. Then we came home and made gingerbread houses, then watched Muppet's Christmas Carol and then all of us kids fell asleep together in the room next to the living room. I had fun staying up a little later with mom and Jason, stuffing the stockings and laughing for another hour or so. That was probably one of my favorite parts.

Kaylee, Kaylee, Kaylee. We love her so much. She is sooo easy to love and take care of. She continues to a content, easy going, and happy little girl. She's not really a baby anymore, especially not now that she crawls everywhere and wishes she could walk. What a cutie pie.

Right now we're in St. George for the week. Angie's getting married a couple of days after we get home, on the day school starts up (thanks Ang), and then we are going back to Rexburg, moving into our bigger (;->) apartment (we couldn't move in until Jan 1st so we put our stuff in a storage area during the break), moving Ang and Austin's stuff into their apartment too while they're on their honeymoon (since they are missing school for that entire week), and get busy with school, Jared with work, and lots of church stuff to do with the new semester. WHew! But we are so happy! We love having purpose in our lives. We got married two years ago on the 28th and have found so much joy in the journey we've created together. There just isn't much more we could ask for in life.

Alright Aunt Debi...did that work for you?

the joy of an orange

2009-09-21T20:25:00.002-06:00

Our little family

2009-09-21T19:43:00.010-06:00

whew! it's been a long time...

2009-09-21T19:22:00.004-06:00

Hello hello to everyone out there. It's been so long since I last said anything. I'm no good at this blog thing. I'd much rather actually talk to someone in person than write on this thing, but, oh well. My Aunt Debi scolded me for not keeping up to date on this thing. Well, here goes.
WE are happy...and doing very well. We really couldn't ask for anything more in our lives. .nope, nothing. . . .except. . .a bigger apartment, ok, you got me. I have come to the realization within the last month that we have outgrown our first little apartment. I think I knew it a long time ago, but we have been here since the first week of being married and have loved it so very very much. We are happy in the ward and are so grateful to live across the street from campus. We are also grateful for our callings which keep us up and hopping. We are playing with the idea that we'll move in December, but if you want my honest opinion, we'll stay, I'm sure of it. We graduate in April '10 and we've made this beautiful, little place work for a year and eight months, so what's another eight? Even if we have to stick Kaylee's crib in the shower we will make it work!! Jared is the Elder's Quorum President and I am the Relief Society President and that has been a blessing in our lives. There's not much more, besides family, that makes me happier than serving in the church, where ever and however that may be. It gets me out visiting and serving other sisters constantly. My testimony has grown tremendously of Visiting and Home teaching and the impact that we can have on each other.
Kaylee is a doll! We love her so much. I didn't know I could love being a mom this much. She was cute when she was born, cute when she was a month old, and cute when she fit in our sink (ha, no bathtub in the place...another reason it's soon time to move), but now, she is so beautiful to me. I laugh with her all the time. What a little personality this girl has. She is ALWAYS smiling. If you look at her she smiles, if you blow kisses at her she smiles, and if you hug her she smiles. She never really gets upset. Well we reached a big milestone today. She fell off the couch. I now have to watch her every move since she wiggles around and rolls over where ever I put her. It was so sad but cute when she cried for me and only wanted her mommy. Can anything be better than that?
I am taking three classes, an Ethics/philosophy class which is fantastic, a Sociology/family interactions class, and one of my final psychology classes. I don't want this time to end here at BYU-Idaho. I know that it's winding down, but everyday I've been here I have felt so grateful for this place. Being here has been like serving a mission, or more like the MTC...just crammed with spiritual and secular knowledge to be learned at every experience.
We can feel that Fall is fast approaching...good, I am ready, although Jared is not, nor ever will be. It's my favorite time of year. I think Jared wishes it was summer, summer, summer everyday. Nope, not me. I enjoy wearing sweaters and jackets, scarves, and cute socks, hearing leaves crunch under my feet, smelling pumpkin spice, and hearing the heat on in our home. It's a cozy time of year, if you ask me.
Well whoever out there reads this, I hope this finds you equally happy and doing as well as can be. Life is so wonderful. I am constantly in awe at the beauty and joy that our Heavenly Father shares with us each day!

2009-07-26T17:20:00.001-06:00

We are having so much fun!

2009-07-11T23:12:00.009-06:00

2009-06-16T13:40:00.001-06:00

Balloons are. . .scary?

2009-05-19T20:14:00.002-06:00

2009-05-19T20:05:00.006-06:00

We celebrated Jared's 26th birthday on Saturday. Everything I planned went wrong, but that's ok. He decided that Subway was exactly what he wanted for a birthday meal so that's what we did for dinner (he even got bacon on his sandwich, which he never does because it's a whole $1.75 extra). Later that evening we went to Grandma's and had cake and then our activity was nintendo. I rarely, if ever play so it was one of my little treats to him.

Summer time!

Bath time is a fun time, right...

2009-04-29T17:41:00.003-06:00

Getting ready for church on Sunday...

2009-04-29T17:30:00.005-06:00

I went to Broulims last week to get a few bits and bobs, plus they had a good sale on Fruit Loops, which Jared LOVES! This is what we looked like when we walked home. People think I'm crazy, I know, but I cannot bring myself to take the car when it only takes me 20 minutes to walk there, plus you all know how I love taking Kaylee out for walks. The cereal kept her nice and warm!

Blow-outs, how we love them...

Moonlight Serenade

2009-04-24T16:07:00.010-06:00

This last weekend Jared, Kaylee and I went with Grandma Bird down to Utah to be with my family and go to Moonlight Serenade that Davis High school puts on every year. This was Jason's last year in the Jazz band so of course we had to go. It was a big, exciting thing for me when I was in high school. I always looked forward to being a waitress. Thur-Sat nights the Jazz band plays, there are singers, jazz dancers, and the whole cafeteria is transformed to fit the mood.

We had a beautiful stake dinner with amazing rolls and cheesecake, among other things. I always love going! So we all dressed up and had a great time. I tried to convince Jared quite a long time before hand that we WERE going to dance (it scares him but I love it). He made me laugh when we were out dancing. During one really fast jazz song with people dancing like crazy (the polka, I think), we were around the edges starting to dance and he grabbed me and said "oh, this is scary...just hold me," as he was laughing. It just made me laugh too. I love my family so much. What a fantastic weekend we had.

2009-04-16T15:50:00.002-06:00

2009-04-16T15:25:00.008-06:00

President Gordon B. Hinckley

"The observance of four simple things on the part of parents would, in a generation or two, turn our societies around in terms of their moral values...Let parents and children teach and learn goodness together, work together, read good books together, and pray together."

Camp out, S'mores, and "The Sandlot"

Like daddy, like daughter

General Conference Fun

2009-04-08T11:51:00.006-06:00

It has been great fun around here the last while...General Conference was wonderful. We got together with some of our ward friends and had breakfast and then watched the first session. Then my neighbor Jenny and her little boy, my upstairs neighbor Mary, and I went for a walk all around campus since it was so beautiful. Taking walks is something I love so much, just being out doors each day and seeing how beautiful everything is and enjoying the fresh air, as well as having a chance to talk to friends along the way. I think it does the mind and body much good.

Another one for you Mom!

2009-04-02T15:11:00.002-06:00

More comings and goings in the Cook home

2009-04-02T14:58:00.004-06:00

We are very happy and well this week...just enjoying the snow that seems to keep falling in Rexburg, Idaho and getting ready for yet another semester to end. I do love it here so much. We are down to our last year at this place. I know that seems like a while, but I know that it's not and so I am trying to take advantage of every single opportunity that I can while we're still here. Kaylee and I go to the weekly Tuesday devotionals, I have my health psychology and D&C class, Jared's working full time for another two weeks and then it's back to full-time school and work for him, and I also take Kaylee out for walks all the time along with the neighbors. I've been learning more about cooking and trying different recipes, and I'm going with my neighbor to be apart of the BYU-I garden for the married students. I have always wanted a garden so that I could grow some of my own fresh food. I guess I'll let you know how that goes.
I'll have to post some pictures from Kaylee's baby blessing this last Sunday. It was wonderful to spend a little bit of time with Jared's family and then have my family come up also. I'm glad my family decided to stay a day longer due to bad weather. It just gave us more time together.

2009-03-23T15:15:00.008-06:00

I am just like all of the other new parents out there. For such a long time I couldn't understand why new parents only post/take pictures of their new little baby and none of themselves. I used to complain about this to Jared, especially since I wanted to see pictures and hear about the parents since they were the ones I knew...Well now I think I understand because I am becoming just like that. I don't care about posting or taking many pictures of myself anymore...all I want to do is capture the moments that Kaylee brings. I am just like all of the other sentimental parents out there.

On that note, something that worried me a great deal before Kaylee was born was wondering how I was going to be able to love her enough to get me through the sleepless nights, the dirty diapers, the financial obligations, the tremendous responsibility, having to learn to put her first, and not being able to go out everyday and feel like I was making a noticable difference in the world like I felt I could do with being a student and the possibilities that would lead to and the academic advising job that I had on campus. I LOVED that job and wanted to keep it forever, or do something just like it for a career. It was really hard for me to let it go....But now I think I'm ok with not working there anymore, even though it was one of the best experiences I've had for a job. I've started to recognize again that President Harold B. Lee was right on the mark when he said "the greatest work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home."

When Kaylee was born and I saw her I loved her, but it wasn't this all encompassing love right away like I was expecting and I suppose that's because I didn't know anything about her yet. But I've found that slowly, over this last month of being with her and changing her diapers, feeding her, holding her when she cries, being up at night with her, laughing with Jared at her funny faces,and kneeling by her crib with Jared to say our night prayers, that I'm learning to love her more and more. I find myself getting excited to see her when I'm away from her or when she's taking a nap. I'm learning to find the joys!

2009-03-17T22:25:00.002-06:00

This is for you mom!

Blowout!

2009-03-17T18:47:00.007-06:00

The other day I was talking to my mom while I was feeding Kaylee. During the conversation Kaylee had quite the blowout. I didn't even realize it until I opened up her blanket and low and behold! So I had to quickly hang up so I could start the major cleaning job.

Well we have fun around here! Today Kaylee and I went to devotional together on campus. I really enjoy going to that every Tuesday. It seems that more and more the focus has been on Temple worship, which was the topic again today. It's funny that before Kaylee was born and it was so easy to go, we went but it didn't seem like such an urgent thing at times. Now that it's not as easy to just pick up and go with Jared like we used to I feel more of an urgency to do so. Well, I love the devotionals and talks from stake conference about the Temple. I'm sure we'll just keep hearing more and more about it as time continues on.

Here are some more pictures for fun. I can't help it. I really enjoy taking pictures of our cute little Kaylee bug, especially with Jared.

2009-03-15T09:31:00.005-06:00

Happy Sabbath!
These are some of the comings and goings around here these days. Kaylee has a blowout at least once a day, usually in the mornings. It's something I just expect now. It's a good thing dirty diapers don't really bother us.

The sun has been out the last few days and it's been so beautiful that I couldn't bear to be stuck inside for very long so I bundle Kaylee up and we go for a walk for about an hour. She enjoys it, or at least it puts her to sleep very quickly. The other day we walked up around the Rexburg temple. I have a neighbor who has a little one year old boy. She invited me to go walking with her on Wednesday and Friday so Kaylee and I did that. We walked all over campus pushing our little strollers, talking about cooking and exchanging recipes, school, classes, home life, etc....Yep, I am definitely in a new stage of life. I am so grateful that life changes. I love the new adventures and challenges. Sometimes it's really hard to change and move on because we want to cling on to what we're comfortable with, but it is so good for us. It provides incredible opportunities to learn and improve who we are. I love every stage I've been through...with all the the ups and downs that came...So here I am learning to adapt and enjoy this new stage of motherhood.
On Friday one of my most favorite companions, Sister Abigail Cannon, came to visit me. I haven't seen many people from my mission so this was a wonderful treat. We spent many hours reminiscing about mission memories and talking about our lives now. She was a perfect companion for me at the time I served with her. I just adore her and am so thankful that Heavenly Father put me with her when He did. Serving a mission was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life!

2009-03-11T18:35:00.004-06:00

I have taken Kaylee out in her stroller several times now. I miss taking walks so I'm going to start doing that more often. I had a dentist appointment early this morning so I tried to get her fed so she'd be a happy camper while I was away. I guess she didn't get enough to eat because Jared said that once I left she started screaming. He had to use our emergency stash of formula to keep her going. She took to that pretty well. I feel bad that I'm the only one that can feed her. I'm sure Jared must feel helpless sometimes when I'm not around and she starts feeling hungry. When she wants food she wants food! But if she's fed she's the most content little thing. So I felt bad more for Jared than for Kaylee. I tried to feed her until she was full but she keeps falling asleep on me and then waking up later wanting the rest of her meal. Oh the joys...But we love her and think she is the most beautiful little thing. I took her to her checkup. She is healthy and well and now weighs 8 lbs. 14 oz. She made a nice wet mess on the scales just after the nurse finished weighing her. When the diaper is off...well, that's just asking for trouble.
I am really grateful to still be in school, even though it takes a lot more preparation to get out of the house on time. I have to not only get myself ready but make sure that Kaylee is fed and changed before I go, so obviously getting out of the house to go anywhere now takes more time. Being in school, even though it's only two classes, gives me something to get out of the house for and things to learn and do. I love being up here at school. I really wish I could be a student forever!

Confessions

2009-03-10T12:49:00.004-06:00

My mom and Aunt Debi gave me a bunch of candy when I was in the hospital in lots of pain, just waiting for the epidural. My mom also brought over a bunch of chocolate from England that a friend had brought over. So we have a bunch of goodies in our apartment. I decided to stash it away somewhere where it wouldn't be looking at me all the time so I wouldn't eat it too quickly. I put it in our crock pot underneath our shelves. Well last night before FHE Jared started laughing and made his confession. I guess he decided it would be really funny to open up most of the candy and take a bite out of each and then put it back and see if I would notice. I didn't, much to his dismay, I'm sure. I put it out of sight and there it stayed! What can I do to get him back?

Two Weeks Old

2009-03-08T07:32:00.008-06:00

Our little Kaylee is two weeks old. She doesn't even look like that tiny tiny newborn anymore, or at least not to me. She is very alert and I love to sit and look at her, especially at her eyes. I also love watching the way Jared interacts with her. I think that's probably one of my favorite things. We took her to the Saturday session of stake conference last night. Church is different when you spend time listening to it out in the foyer (:->). She's worth it, the cute little thing.
So now that my mom is gone after two weeks of helping out and being someone I could talk to and laugh with about everything, I realize that now it's my responsibility to take pictures of the comings and goings around here. She was good at doing that for me.

There's at least one point during each day as I'm taking care of Kaylee that I wonder if I have what it takes to be the type of mom to her that she deserves, to be to her what my mom was and is to me, and if I can love her the way Heavenly Father loves her. It's definitely an adjustment. I've realized that my life is no longer my own. There have been many ups but also some downs as I recognize that I need a lot more help than sometimes it's easy to ask for. It's just another adventure in life, huh. A new challenge, experience, and new joys.

Well Kaylee keeps Jared and I laughing with all of her sneezes and hiccups. She makes the funniest little noises and it's been fun getting used to having another little person around the house. She sleeps a lot, wakes up, eats, and then is out again for a couple of hours. When she's awake she is very alert though. I keep myself busy at home with homework, finding new things to learn, cleaning (I love cleaning), watching the food channel, and other things here and there, and taking care of Kaylee in between everything. Then I always look forward to when Jared comes home from work. Life is great, it really is and there's very little I would change about it. Both Jared and I feel so incredibly blessed in every aspect of our lives and recognize the constant tender mercies that the Lord gives us. It seems that every day there's something here and there that He does for us and now, in this new stage of our lives that is full of adjustment the Lord continues to be the constant anchor in our lives. So we are happy and doing very well. Thanks for your love and support!

Introducing the Cook family

2009-02-24T10:49:00.006-07:00

Everyone is blogging these days. We swore we would never have a blog. Most people only publish the best things about themselves on their blogs, and it can be easy to compare yourself at your worst to your friends or family at their best, making you feel less than stellar. But here we are with a new baby girl and we find that it's the easiest way to let family and friends see and hear how we're doing without having to send a million emails all the time. So know that we have struggles just like you and we'd be glad to tell you about them if you just ask. With that disclaimer, we invite you to share our joys in the hopes that yours will increase too.

Here's our little family, featuring Kaylee, the newest addition. She was born 7 lbs 8.3 oz, 21 inches long, at 6:08pm on Sunday, Feb. 22nd, 2009, in Madison Memorial Hospital, Rexburg, Idaho. Please excuse the bruise on her forehead, as she was born face-up and the doctor had to use suction cups to get her out.