Back to School

Well, I'm back in school.  I haven't taken any classes for a year now and for some reason it feels different to me.  I guess it's just being a mom or something...I feel old.  :o)  It's an interesting feeling.  I look around me and the majority of students I see are single and looking for that someone special.  And as grateful as I am to be past that part of life, it makes me feel like I don't fit in the college atmosphere anymore.  I guess that is just part of growing up though.  

But I have realized how much I missed being in a learning environment.  I am so excited to go to my classes and to do homework.  Ok, I'm a little nerdy.  And taking piano, voice instruction, and music 1010 doesn't give me bazillions of hours of homework, so maybe that's why I don't mind it.  The next half of the summer semester will be a little tougher with ethics and values and elementary astronomy.  Anyway, this is a boring post.  It's mostly just to say that I'm back to school!

California Trip

Josh, Asher, and I decided to join Heather, Jason, Jaron, and Tayson (hey, that rhymes!) on an adventure this last week. All 7 of us embarked on a vacation to California. It was fun...although I don't know what we were thinking taking one almost 3 year old, a 6 1/2 month old, and a 4 1/2 month old. But we had a blast spending three days in Disneyland and California Adventure, and one day each at Universal Studios, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo.

We have a ton of pictures, but I tried to pick some of the highlights.

We were able to snap a ton of pictures with characters. Others inlcude: Pluto, Goofy, Eeyore, Spongebob, Curious George, Mickey, and Shrek and Fiona.

Cute Jaron cheesin' it on Pooh's honeypots.

We actually bought this hat for Asher and had his name embroidered on it. We didn't purchase the slippers, just borrowed them for a quick sec to snap a cute picture.

In front of statues of Snow White and the 7 dwarfs.

Josh and Asher tuggin' on the Sword in the Stone, while Asher keeps warm in mommy's sweater.

At the San Diego Zoo.

This was my first time at Sea World. We got to pet stingrays! And feed and pet dolphins too! I kept saying I felt like a kid in a candy store!

Asher and me waiting for the dolphin show to begin.

I just had to add this cute pic of the two babes dozing on the couch together.

And a picture of us almost being eaten alive by Jaws at Universal Studios. It is amazing that we made it out ok. :o)
All in all it was a ton of fun! Thanks Jason and Heather for letting us crowd in on your vacation!

Time for an update!

Well, it is crazy to think that last week Asher was officially 6 months old. Life has never gone so fast! We also discovered last week that Asher has his first tooth. As Josh and I talked about it, we both realized that we were feeling the same way...that Asher had reached a big milestone and that we were both looking at him differently. He is growing up! It is so important to cherish each moment instead of rushing to get to the next thing, as Elder Ballard shared in his conference talk. Time goes so quickly. It is bittersweet!

Below are a couple pictures my sister took just after my grandma's memorial service. She gathered some flowers from the bouquet on my grandma's casket and was playing with Asher as we drove to the church for the family luncheon.

Asher has recently been falling asleep in funny positions. These are just two of the cute pictures we've captured.

I know every mom thinks they have the cutest child in the world...but I really do! :o)

My Grandma

I am writing this post as a tribute to my grandmother. Eleanor Adelia Ellsworth Harmon Martin passed away on the 31st of March at the age of 92. This picture is of her holding Asher, the first and only time she was able to meet him. My grandma was a wonderful women! One of my cousins expressed it very well when she said that there was never a conversation she had with grandma when she did not share her testimony of the Gospel and the Savior. I feel the same way. She was the type of woman who could look into your eyes and know when you were troubled. And she always knew what to say to make you feel better. The last conversation I had with her included her sharing some insights with me about a topic that I had just been pondering and praying about and had not even shared with her. She was very close to the Spirit.

But while this is a time of sorrow for our loss, it is also a time of rejoicing for her reunion with her eternal companion, Aldo. They had been apart for over 20 years. I know they are together now continuing on with the work. I am so grateful for the life she lived and the amazing example she was to all those who had the privilege of associating with her. She touched many many lives!


I also want to say Happy Birthday to my little sister, Kayla. (She is the one in the black. This picture was taken at my grandmother's funeral and includes me, two of my three sisters, Kayla and Camille, and my mom, Kelli.) Kayla is turning 17 today! Woo Hoo, although she probably won't even see this... She is such a talented and beautiful girl. I admire the testimony she has already acquired. She is so much better than I was at her age. I love her to death! Happy Birthday, Sis!

BYU--here Josh comes!

Ok, it has been a while since I last posted. I just figured I'd give it a little time because I didn't have too many people that knew about my blog yet.


So, our biggest news is that Josh was accepted to BYU!!! He applied for Fall semester and we weren't expecting him to get in right away. But he did! We are very excited for him! He will get a much needed break from school during the summer, after receiving his Associates from UVSC. He is very excited, but has not yet decided exactly which major to pursue. We'll see how things go and continue to pray and ponder for what it is that will be the best for him as a career. So, that's the latest.

Oh, and Brandi, who my last post was dedicated to, will be flying in tomorrow night. Wow, so exciting! I am so grateful for her safe return.

Shout Out to the Military

Well, I just wanted to post a little tribute to my best friend. Sgt. Brandi Palmer is currently serving in Iraq as an Army Reservist. This is a picture of her and her little family. Brandi was deployed to Iraq when her daughter was not even a year. Brandi missed Camri's first birthday, first steps, first words, etc. Nate has been the only parent at home for close to a year, while working and going to school. But I don't want you to get the idea that this is to dog on the war in Iraq. In speaking with Brandi, I have learned that there are still good things going on there. The Iraqi people are so grateful for the efforts of the U.S. military.
Brandi will be coming home within the next month! I am so grateful for her safety, and equally grateful for her selfless service. It is because of Brandi, and those like her, that we enjoy the freedoms that we do today. So, please take some time tonight to pray for the military and their families. It is not easy!