Hello world! Here we are!

It's been a while, but that doesn't mean we haven't had A TON going on in our lives! I will start from the most recent and work my way back.....

Last night, for FHE, Devin and I went to the Monte L. Bean Museum on BYU campus. I found out earlier that day that they were having a live show on certain reptiles! I, like most, am not the hugest fan of reptiles, which is why the wildlife specialist was probably trying to convince us that they're really not so bad. This, however, was a night especially for Devin. I didn't capture a picture of it, but he had the absolute HUGEST, little boy grin on his face the ENTIRE show. That's why I love him! He was giggling and squirming in his seat the entire time. I, on the other hand, was squirming for a different reason.....like when the viper snake was let to wander by itself on the ground. There was also an iguana (pictured below) and a lizard that is similar to a komodo dragon. I don't think I was paying attention to the name of it, instead, I was watching that little devil like a hawk. I was sure it would leap out of the specialist's hands onto me at any given point in time. It didn't seem he had too good a hold on that strong little booger.


Here is Devin with the polar bear and several other arctic animals. It was the only other picture I took, because Devin was slightly embarrassed when I told him to turn around and say cheese in front of all of the little children. :O) I guess I was just a little too motherly.


Here's my baby sleepin! Can you tell what's in his arms?!


Yes, there it is a little better!!!!! It is our build-a-bear named Snuggles! We put her together on our date night a few weekends ago. She will be a part of our life until our next little one gets here (note: this is not an announcement) in a little while; at which time, we will give her to him/her. It says various things, like my favorite "I love you."


A few weeks PRIOR to THAT, we went ice blocking at Rock Canyon Park with a couple from our ward. Here are the Jones! We can just say we were trying to keep up with the Jones' the whole time. They were up and down that hill bunches of times!





Here is my daredevil of a husband going down on two blocks, standing up! He was just falling off as I snapped the picture.



We decided to try and go down in more "interesting" positions. I am laying on Dev's back and Tim and Maria are going down as a train.

Devin all messy


Outside of our apartment, we have a huge grassy hill. Around the beginning of August/end of July, we came home to this:



It was a huge "slip-N-slide" with TONS of dish soap and water all over it...
Again, Devin going down standing up.

You can't QUITE see the grass here, but it was MESSY

From the upward angle looking down


And that's all I have of pictures. BUT, eventually, I will go private and put pictures up of the little girl I just started nannying! She is without a doubt THE MOST BEAUTIFUL and adorable little girl I have ever nannied. ha ha. Okay, so she's the only girl I have ever nannied, but we've had a blast so far! Maddie is turning 5 this week, but just started preschool because she missed the deadline to start last year. She is super intelligent though and so much fun to be around! We have gone to the library for storytime, to the Monte L Bean museum, to feed the ducks, to explore the BYU campus, etc, etc. It has been so enlightening for me to know a little more about what it will be like for me to have my own children. I LOVE to plan fun activities, so this will be right up my ally! We already have all of September filled and there are a MILLION ideas for the rest of the school year. I went to the library and checked out books on what to do in Utah, or just for fun activities for children of her age and intellect. It has truly been a joy and just makes me more excited for our own kids someday~ I always get nervous about whether I will be a good mom....this experience is somewhat calming my fears. Not only did those books hold good ideas for my nannying, but it also had some phenomenal things we can do on our date night. We can get a little more adventuresome for the future. I would recommend the library for ANY ideas you may need so you don't always do the same routine. Getting out of the routine is sometimes so healthy for date night, because it helps you to get to know your spouse in a totally different arena. We love the fabulous ideas we've been given!

Our family is also getting geared up for a new season of intramural sports. I will be the captain of three teams (almost four, but I decided I just wouldn't have enough time) and Devin will be on two teams. We are doing Co-ed basketball together (with the rest of our siblings who are up here at BYU, now three), each our own soccer--because it's not co-ed this semester--and my sister will be the highlight of this team since she is SO talented, and I am captaining our RS women's volleyball team. It will be an ABSOLUTE blast! I love to get out and play with Devin, my siblings, and the girls from the ward! It is a great bonding experience for us, some wonderful exercise, and a good motivator to get outside of my comfort zone a little bit. I am, by no means, extremely agile and skilled at things that take coordination.

Devin has been studying pretty intensely. I have never seen him THIS determined...and he is a pretty determined guy~! Our whole marriage, he has always had a weekly goal sheet that he keeps track of ALL of his time on....it's kinda like he's still on his mission. In fact, it IS his mission scheduler--he makes new copies of it when he runs out, AND it is in portuguese. He is VERY good at following the goals he makes each week. This is just one of the reasons he is so remarkable. Anyway, back to my point, he is doing very well at keeping on track and studying EVEN THE TINIEST LITTLE moments he gets. I think he is really getting excited about his major. He is also taking a history class this semester. He loves to tell me all of the interesting things he is learning, and I love it too, cuz I miss taking classes! Good thing he's teaching me!

As summer draws to an end here in Provo, I am a little disheartened. Winter time is not my forte, nor do I enjoy carefully maneuvering down the slick mountain our apartment sits on to get to work or to campus. Winter will bring other fun activities our way I am sure. I will keep you updated on the Fall...until then...