N8OT8O!

Today is Nate's birthday!

I seriously love my brother so much and everything he has done for me.

He has been such a fantastic role model for me and I look to him for strength a lot especially when I have been looking at the same Organic chemistry problem for like an hour and still can't figure out what to do.

Happy birthday Nathan! I love you and your cute little family so much!

Someday I hope I can follow in your footsteps :)

February is Nuts...

February is the shortest month of the year...so how in the world did my family manage to cram what seems like EVERY SINGLE important event into it?
(I only say that because I was born in February and I seem to have picked up a very narcissistic attitude from somewhere...)

February 9th: Nathan has his birthday. Granny would have been celebrating her birthday this day as well. Miss you Granny!

February 10th: Grandma Owen celebrates her birthday.

February 13th: Phoebe turns three.

February 15th: Rebecca has her birthday.

February 17th: Brendan and Witney have their reception.

February 18th: Bren and Wit will be sealed for TIME AND ETERNITY! Finally...

February 22nd: Little Grey turns 1! My how the year has flown...

February 23rd: I finally leave the desolate wasteland that is teenager-hood

(Also, I'm fairly certain that my grandpa on my mom's side was born somewhere in the middle of the month. Mom?)

Seriously, there's an average of one important event every 3.6 days or somewhere in that ballpark.

My Eternal Family

My home teachers asked me the other day what I am most thankful for in the gospel.
Without thinking I said that I can be with my family for eternity.
As these words left my mouth I had some words come to mind that overwhelmed me with happiness and joy:
"You will never go another day in all of eternity without your family."
Oh it is such a comfort to be sealed to them and to know that I can be with these amazing people that I love like nothing else forever and ever and ever.

The gospel is true, folks. I can't say it loud enough or with enough feeling.

We love each other.

We support each other.

We cheer each other on.

We talk to each other.

We are best friends.

What I did to deserve to be in such am amazing family, I don't know.

But I am forever and eternally grateful for whatever it was.

*Oh man, here come the water works.*

Is it ridiculous that I make myself cry just thinking about how much I love my family?

Gratitude #14

I am so beyond grateful for my nieces and nephews.

They have taught me how to love someone more than I love myself.
Gwen is a little spit-fire, but she is a great older sister. I love the way she argues with me over who loves who more :)

Phoebe is a tender-hearted sweetie. She is pretty soft spoken a lot of the time and totally devoted to her little animal toys.

Little Greysen was born the day before my birthday, and therefore holds a special place in my heart. He was my first nephew as well. He has a smile that melts my heart and he is just so stinking cute!

Isaac has another one of those smiles...he uses his whole face! He definitely looks like an Owen, which makes him absolutely adorable ;) He turned six months old today! How absolutely crazy is that??

And finally there's little baby Hyrum. It's still hard for me to believe that Nate is a dad! I am so excited to meet Hyrum for the first time! It's crazy how much I love him when the closest I've gotten to seeing him are the pictures my family sends me. He's already a month old! Time flies...

Gwen, Phoebe, Greysen, Isaac, and Hyrum...your Auntie Em loves you more than words can express :)

This picture is a little outdated, but yeah.

Gwen, Greysen, Isaac, and Phoebe

Here's the proud Daddy with little Hyrum :)

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

The 'It' mentioned in the title of this post refers my life for the last week :)

Don't you just love when you actually get stuff in the mail???

I had to take a picture so I would remember the awesome-ness I felt at this moment.

On Sunday afternoon Mom, Dad, Maci, and I made the trip to IF to see the family.

This little guy is growing up SO fast!

Can you believe he's already three months old?

He looks more and more like Ronnie every day.

We also had a new experience!

Nate and Rebecca were able to come up and visit for the weekend

and they introduced us to Wild Asparagus Hunting. 

This is Maci and I before we left.

Here I am afterwards.

I look awful because it was raining and windy :P

Asparagus hunting is so dang hard!

It grows along ditch banks in the Idaho Falls area.

You would think that it would be pretty easy to spot, but it's NOT!

I was pretty awful at it until Rebecca's brother came and helped me.

It was actually a lot of fun even if it was cold and wet and miserable the whole time.

The three sisters sharing their spoils!

I was so happy to get to see these guys!

Rebecca is due October 5 and is having a little baby boy!

I can't wait to see the Three Amigos running around and playing together.

Sleepy little Isaac!

He definitely doesn't like to wake up!

He's adorable and looks just like an Owen.

Maci and Greysen.

Maci got her braces off recently and this was the first time I saw her without them for almost two years!

Doesn't she look so gorgeous?

She's seriously growing up :(

Oh, and thanks to Lindsay for lots of the pictures on this blog!

Encouraging words...

Man, this college stuff is tough!

I asked Nathan whether I should take Macroeconomics or Microeconomics and this is the conversation that followed:

"They both suck. Maybe try Macro. I seemed to like that one more."

"I figured they both would...dang! I think I'm going to take that next semester to get it out of the way. Whatever I do I'm going to have a semester with three labs."

"What classes are you taking?"

"Anat and phys, O Chem, Econ, and Intro to Lit is what I'm thinking for next semester. The one after that I will probably add microbiology."

"That sounds good. That should be pretty doable."

"I hope it seems like that when I'm actually doing it!"

"No, it will be horrible. But you will get through it."


Here I was expecting something like, "Don't worry, you'll be fine! If I could do it, you can do it!"
You know, words of encouragement!

Well...at least he was honest and he's not filling my head with false hopes right?

I have also decided to not take Macroeconomics for a little while...I don't know where it will fit into my schedule actually...maybe next fall.

Right now I'm registered for Anat and Phys + Lab, Intro to Lit, and Physics 111.
For my fellow Facebook-ers you will already know that I wasn't able to register for O Chem just yet.
Apparently I have to FINISH General Chemistry before they will let me enroll.
If that's not stupid I don't know WHAT is!

This one's for you...

This is for all of you who:
Know that Dove chocolate does indeed fix everything.
Genuinely care about me.
Leave notes for me that you know I'll see that always always ALWAYS make my day.
Tell me that you love me unconditionally.
Say those profound things that I've heard zillions of times, but all of a sudden make an impact.
Understand where I've been and know where I'm going.
Can finish my sentences.
Can always make me smile.
Laugh at my (usually) stupid jokes.
Have told me that you're proud of me.
Know that there is a deeper meaning to Bubbles and Potato Salad. :)
Understand what I'm talking about when I say Potato Tots.
Compliment my cooking even when it's not the greatest.
Crawled into my bed with me when you knew I was crying just to give me a hug (just FYI, this only applies to Maci)
Pulled me onto their knee and held me while I cried.
Supported me even when I was failing.
Have lent me things even when it wasn't convenient.
Bring me down to earth.
Helped me separate Cross Stitch thread into the wee hours of the morning.


I LOVE YOU!
That is all :)

Best Saint Patrick's Day EVER!

Normally I think St. Patrick's Day is one of the most useless holidays ever,
but this one was different...

Lyndsey went out to check the mail in the evening and handed me a card.
That was exciting enough! I love getting mail.
Then I read what was written:

Leprechaun's Gold

The Irish are coming they will soon be seen

So keep an eye out for those dressed in green

Find a four-leafed clover and it should bring you luck

Then if you catch a small man he can't run amok

Keep a vigilant watch out for those pots o' gold

It could really help out the ole billfold

But we've got some news, which will make you fill richer

Than chasing rainbows and all that leprechaun's glitter

You will soon be recounting the family tree

As our number of two will soon equal three

Love Nathan and Rebecca

I thought this was the cutest way to announce another niece or nephew EVER!

I can't wait for October to get here!!!

Congratulations Nathan and Rebecca, you're going to be awesome parents!

I love you both so much :)

Blessing number 10

Nathan and Rebecca

Nathan is another of my very special brothers.

He is the one who will randomly write on my wall on Facebook

just to tell me that he loves me.

One thing I remember very clearly about him

is something that he can't do anymore...

He used to call my dog in this way that I won't be able

to convey to you here, but I'm going to try anyway.

"hIII siiiiiigh! what are YOU doin' dooooooog?"

Yeah, everyone but my immediate family will be

COMPLETELY lost when they read that.

He is also a very hard worker and he never gives up.

He's in the College of Pharmacy right now

and it took him a couple of tries to get accepted, 

but I'm sure he doesn't regret it now.

I have decided to follow in his footsteps

and pursue a career in Pharmacy as well.

He and his lovely wife Rebecca gave me a card

for graduation this last year and it made me cry when I read it

(not really that hard to do)

He wrote, "I just want you to know that Rebecca and I 

love you very much. No matter where you are

or where we are you are always welcome in our home

and we are always available to talk

if you ever need to."

I miss Nate. A LOT!

He was accepted into the College of Pharmacy

on the Meridian campus, so he and Rebecca

had to move to Boise.

I knew it would happen eventually

(all the kids getting spread apart)

but I just kinda hoped it wouldn't.

A few weeks ago there was a Pharmacy Fair

here in Pocatello and Nathan needed a place to stay

and I had the opportunity to put him up for the night.

He got here really late and left early the next morning,

but it doesn't change the fact that as soon as he put his

stuff in my extra room , he came and gave me

a big hug and told me that he loved me.

Rebecca is an amazing lady!

She likes to talk about any and everything

and I love her sense of humor.

I remember just after Nate and Rebecca got married

we were at Applebee's for dinner

and Nathan got distracted while eating his

Spinach and Avacado dip and kinda left

his chip with the dip on it just hangin' there.

Rebecca leaned over, ate the chip and gave him a big smile.

She knows what she wants in life 

and she stops at nothing to get it.

One thing I've really noticed about her is

that she sets a lot of goals. She's an awesome example.

I can't wait until I get mine!

P.S. I think they think they're too good to get a picture with me cause this is the only one I have and I had to dig around on Facebook to get it :P Just wait until Thanksgiving!