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 :)

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 #23

Yeesh, I've got some serious catching up to do!

I am so grateful for the time I get to spend with my family.

It's crazy, I had never even met little Hyrum, but I had all this love for him saved up inside. When I finally got to hold him for the first time it all bubbled over and I was so happy this special little red-head was going to be in my family for eternity.

I just can't get enough of this little guy!

Or this one...

Or little Grey...

And then there's sweet little Phoebe...

And Gwen!

*Yikes, what was I talking about again? Oh yeah...*

It was especially nice that Logan and Rachelle and the little girls were there to help us decorate for Christmas this year (sorry, didn't have my camera with me). Most of our ornaments ended up at the bottom of the tree, but I was just happy that I didn't have to do it all myself.
*I spend way too much time trying to make the placement of the ornaments random, which, if you took McMurray's stats class, you know is impossible...it makes for a very tiring activity*

I also love just playing games with them :)
I even beat Logan a few times at Blokus until he figured out a good strategy which totally trumped mine.
*sigh* Such is life.

Crazy Life!

Is it just me or has life spun COMPLETELY out of control lately?

I was sitting in Organic Chemistry the other day interpreting IR and NMR spectra and I realized just how NUTS it was that I understood what was going on...or that I am even in that class. I remember when Nate was telling me how hard OChem was, and now I'm actually living it.

Another one of these moments came on Tuesday when I was holding onto the edge of a table trying to keep my composure as my A&P Lab TA poked and prodded a cadaver. It was definitely in the top 10 nastiest things I've ever experienced, but I thought I did very well. I fought a headache and a constant gag reflex, but I actually TOUCHED a cadaver. *hold for applause*

I'm constantly reminded of how much life changes every time I go to work. I started working at Seasons of Hope in January, where I there were 21 DT's. I was the newest and youngest there. Now I'm one of the oldies in the company...like seriously I'm 4 or 5 in seniority haha.

Oh, and Greysen is getting so BIG!:

Is everyone else aware that Rebecca is due in less than a week??:

This is a hat that my mom made for Hyrum.

She also made a pumpkin and a BSU hat.

Oh, and I'm a sophomore in COLLEGE. I guess I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one. College is such an old word...and I'm clearly not, as all of my friends are quick to point out.

Sorry mom, I'll try to take more time out of my nutso schedule to update my blog so you know what I'm up to :)

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!

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!