4th week of Thanks

#22-For an awesome snow storm to really bring in the holidays and getting Chad sent home from work early that day.  Was nice to have him home at 3pm instead.
#23-For my Mom and Dad, who came the night before Thanksgiving and stayed til the day after.  They helped us get our house put together for the festivities the next day.  Mom shoveled our driveway, which is no small feet.  We can fit 6 cars on our driveway if needed, so that gives you an idea of how big.
#24- For family who travels our way, since Chad was going to be on call for Thanksgiving.
#25-For a husband and dad that did all the prep work of setting up tables while my mom and I were busy in the kitchen Thanksgiving morning. And then having a husband that cleans up the house after most everyone was gone.
#26-To have a temple so close and to finally get back there.  We had the opportunity to go through the temple with Chad's niece Shandarae, who is going on a mission next month.  I was able to reflect on my own endowment, and the greatest of that day.  How things change and how it becomes such a place of refuge and revelation!!  So glad to have it less than an hour away. Just need to make it a priority to get there more often.
#27-For more family, Chad and I had the opportunity to and visit all but one (and we talked to them on the phone) of his siblings and at least part of their kids over this weekend.  It was good to visit them all and catch up.  We get caught up with the day to day life and don't get to visit as often as we'd like.
#28-For a 4 wheel drive vehicle.  With all the snow that we've been receiving it's been a lifesaver in letting us accomplish all the visits we made this weekend. Not only does it get us to point A to B, but entertains Kherrington and makes traveling so much easier!!
#29-Warm home!! Not only did it accommodate most of my family for Thanksgiving, but it keeps us warm and very comfortable and has lots of space for all our stuff.
#30-Great jobs, Not only does Chad have a steady job, but I am able to work as needed as for 2 hospitals, Pullman from home on occasion and then EIRMC 2 times a month.  I love it.  Not only that, but I'm getting my vinyl business up and running and am loving the great excuse to be creative again!! Now to just keep up with it all.

3rd week of Thanks

#15-Grandparents and free babysitting.  It's so nice to know that Kherrington is well taken care of and loved while I'm at work!! Plus it's nice on the pocket book!! Thanks Mom and Dad!!

#16-For family that lives close! I worked this day and didn't get off until well after 8:30.  Little did I know that Chad was REALLY sick, but lucky for us, Derik and Andrea (Nephew and his wife) came over to do laundry that night and was able to nurse Chad on his way to health while Kherrington and I were on the way home.  Let along leave me awesome Enchilada's for dinner!!

#17-To have Chad home.  Even though he was sick it was nice to get some extra time that we don't usually get with him.  Been a long time that it's just us 3 for an entire day.

#18-For health!!  Chad was able to go back to work today, even though he wasn't 100%.  I'm grateful to have such a hard working husband, that feels it's important to provide for his family.

#19-For flu-shots.  Somehow Kherrington and I didn't get that nasty bug that made Chad spike a fever of 102.2 all Tuesday night and remain sick for well over 48 hours.  I think the flu shots we received did the trick!!

#20-Great Co-workers of Chad's.  Chad was supposed to be on call most of this week to cover the Dr. on vacation (making 2 weeks in a row of on call), but Dr. Rantala was nice enough to take several of the night of on call so Chad could rest and recover!!  So thoughtful.

#21-A Sunday without extra meetings.  Chad was able to stay at home the rest of the day after church.  Been a long time for that too.  But he did have 2 calls that required him to go to work.  One during church and the other just as were about to sleep. Bum Deal!!

Second Week of Thanks

#8-For Family Home Evening. Even though we aren't the greatest at taking advantage of it every week, but just listening to a conference talk together sure makes me feel better.
#9-I didn't end up having to work on Tuesday last week, since the person that was orienting me ended up sick.  Not that I didn't want to go to work, but it gave me an opportunity to work at home for Pullman, and give a little more time to clean the house.
#10-Mail-  I got my first paycheck from EIRMC this week, which was a nice addition to the bank account with all the other expenses going out.
#11-Extended family!  We got to go to my cousin's football game for playoffs for state along with all the rest of the family.  It was great to see cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparent's!
#12-For great parent's who come to help put up Christmas lights, clean out the garage so we can fit Chad's car back in the garage, cook us dinner, and watch Kherrington so we can go out on a date for my birthday.
#13-Time with siblings.  My younger brother and his family came over for dinner with my parents.  It's good to spend time with them and strengthen those bonds!
#14-For being one year older.  As much of life's changes can come I'm greatful to not have any health changes this past year.

So we found a cute little witch costume at a garage sale earlier in the month that we couldn't pass up.  So I thought that I'd borrow my mom's costume and be matching.  Well as it got closer to the trunk or treat for our ward.  I realized that we would be smarter to put her in the costume I bought the year before because it would be warmer.

So Kherrington went as a ladybug. How appropriate since that is what her nursery has been decorated with since she was born.  She made an adorable little bug.  But didn't really want to hold still for a picture.  So this is the best one that I got. The others she was crying cause Chad had to hold her away from the camera so I could get her in the shot.

Chad and I were totally exhausted by the time Halloween came around that we were lucky that we even went at all.  So Sad Halloween used to be my absolute favorite.  As a kid I used to sort through my candy and then put my favorite in this little red mailbox that I had and then I lock it so my brother's could steal it.  What a fanatic!

Kherrington loved going to the ward Halloween party and getting in on the Carnival and running around the gym with the other kids, the Chili and Cornbread, and finally the trunk or treat.

So here is Kherrington's new favorite candy. Reese's Peanut butter cups.  Big surprise!  Chad and I both love them.  She loved eating the candy, but has been pretty good not to beg for more.  If she sees it she's asking for some though.

First week of Thanks

#1- I'm so grateful that Chad usually only has 1 week of call every 3, instead of the every other he has done the last 4 weeks, and that he's done for 2 more weeks.
#2-The flexibility that being a nurse provides for me, and that I don't have to work everyday and miss my child's young years.
#3-For a supportive husband that helps clean the house when it just doesn't look like it's been done that day. Happens more often than I care to admit.
#4-For a involved dad of my child, Thank heaven I don't have to do everything for her 24/7, and that I have a help meet!!
#5-For the abilities that Heavenly Father has given me.  Chad and I did trim work in my parent's living room and down the hallway.  After they re textured, repainted and remodeled.
#6- For living close enough to get in on my new nephew's blessing this last weekend.
#7-Time to spend with family. Got to listen to a child's testimony on Sunday and she stated, "I know that my family loves me!" I'm grateful to know that myself and love the time I spend with my family.

Kherrington update

So I realized that I haven't really posted many pictures lately.  Kherrington is growing so fast and is so intelligent.  She totally answers all the questions you ask.  But if her answer is a "yes" all you get is a head nod.  But you better believe that if the answer is no, she says it.  One of her most used words.  She also can say grandpa!  It's so cute, while I've been at work that last few weeks, then Kherrington stays home with Grandma Joos and we go the night before so we don't have to wake up at 4:30 am to get to Grandma's and work on time.  She get so excited to see her grandparent's.  I love to see it!

And this is here new favorite seat!!  In the fridge, and most of the time I can't get her out of it.  Really funny!  So I have to be careful to see how close she is before I open the door, cause who knows how long it'll take for me to get her out of it and I can guarantee she's not happy when it happens.

She also is on a straight milk kick.  It's all she want to drink and it cut into her appetite if I'm not careful.  She does love to eat potatoes, rice, broccoli, and green beans.  Other things she loves are chips of any kind, tacos, and Subway sandwiches.  We just recently found the Subway one out, but loves to eat it just like an adult.

She is also on a huge animal kick, expecially dogs.  This summer my grandparent's came for a visit to my parent's and brought their little pug "Pug" with them.  She was so nervous when he was around, but would seek him out with an adult whenever he wasn't within seeing distance.  It's now gotten to the point where she has to pet every dog she sees (with an adult though, not brave enough to do it on her own).  Chad and I have been slowly been getting used to the idea of getting a dog, so now we have to go through all the options of dog breeds that will work for our needs.  We need a dog that can be outside, not a huge shedder, and not extremely high energy.  Anyone have any ideas?

 Kherrington loves to go visit Chad at work so she can see the dogs that are kenneled there. 

Here are her 15 months stats now that they are a month old.

Weight:  20 lbs 12 oz

Head circumference: 18.5 inches

Height: 30 inches

  

The last week (Several weeks ago)

All that is left of the garden and that's just cause it'll be on my front porch in a matter of days in 2 bunches!!  

So this was after getting rid of the lettuce and 2 tomato plants and this is what I still had left to tear out.  Thanks heaven that I'd already pulled the pumpkin patch the week before cause the garbage can was really full after I finished.

This is one plant of regular tomatoes....all green, but I have eaten quite a few since they've ripened!  I'm in heaven, reminds me of the tomatoes that came from my Grandpa Joos'!!

What was left of the lettuce.  Next year we're not planting 3, 1/2 length rows of lettuce.  I was always finding someone to take some and I still had a lot go bad at the end.  But it was delicious and easy to grow.  I figured I saved quite a bit just from the lettuce, but we got sick of salads by October!!

So between all of this I've been completing two big super saturday orders, a picture frame with vinyl for an auction, and trying to get a few Halloween projects of my own completed.  If you want to see some of them jump over to my craft blog.  Daisydotdesign.blogspot.com 

Not to mention that I was rehired on my old floor at EIRMC, so I started orientation and have been up there 2 days a week for the last few weeks.  I'm so excited to be working back there, (only 2 shifts a month), but I'm exhausted...and so is Chad.  But we did have lots of fun between all of that.

We got to go to my aunt and uncle's cabin for Chad's birthday and had a few days of rest in between the craziness.  It was hard to even come back to reality. 

Kherrington's 1st birthday!

I know another late one.

But we just barely got her into see a Dr. for her one year old immunizations and I didn't have her stats at 1 year....or 13.5 months that she is now.

                               Ht: 30 inches (58%)

                              Wt: 19 lbs 12 oz (16%)

Head circumference: 18.25 in (75%)

                  6 Months

Ht: 26 inches    (57%)

Wt: 15 lbs 9.5oz (40%)

Head Circumference: 43 cm   16.93in.(64%)

                  4 months

                               Ht: 24 inches (32%) 

                               Wt: 13 lbs 6.2 oz (38%)

Head Circumference: 41 cm (45%)

               2 months

                               Ht: 23 inches (68%)

Wt: 10 lbs 12 oz (47%)

Head Circumference: 42 inches (42%)

So she's growing like crazy and I'm having a hard time keeping her fed really well.  She's fairly tall and skinny, except for the little Buddha belly.  She's been so much fun. 

We celebrated with ALL the family on the 4th of July (Sunday).  Since it was Independence Day, we did a dinner with it too.  We had homemade Cafe' Rio pork salads.  HM MM makes me hungry just thinking about it.  It was wonderful to get together with everyone

Here's her birthday cake.  She has a ladybug themed room and so for the first birthday we went with a Ladybug cake.  It's been a long time since I've done a cake, but we whipped out the fondant and away we went.  So we ended up painting the pink fondant with the red dye, but we found that if you use the entire container of frosting dye, it does go that brilliant color.  We found that out with  the black.  All the fondant was homemade and then I had to make flowers with frosting.  Man has it been a long time, but it was fun to use those skills again.



She really got into the present thing.  Totally unwrapped them like she'd done it before.

Grandma and Grandpa Joos got Kherrington a little swimming pool, a floaty with a little shade, and also some beach/sand toys, for the sandbox that Chad and I made for her!!

Grandma  and Grandpa Christensen got her a cute little dress and a jungle animal toy that plays music.  She also got hair clips a little mug, a book, and a cute little short outfits from some Aunt and Uncle's families.  She didn't even want to keep unwrapping presents once she got the mini Strawberry Shortcake mug with the hair clips in it.  She cried when we took them away from her.



Here she is finally enjoying her cake.  So basically since we've move to Chubbuck Kherrington uses a fork.  She started using an adult sized fork and just stretching her arm away from herself to give her enough room to put the end of the fork in her mouth.  So shortly after she started that, both grandma's gave her a set of silverware that she eats almost everything with.  So she started off eating her cake with a fork.   I was wondering if she'd really ever get into it.


So here are some of her milestones.
*She started walking a few steps at a time the week of her birthday, and then by 12 month and 3 weeks she's been cruising around the house.  Basically a run. Many times I've hurried to put something away in her room at the end of the hall and turn around and she's already there.  Scared me the first few times.  I not used to having a shadow!!
*Been using a spoon and fork to eat since about 11 months old.
*She loves the animal puzzle book from JaNae...those puzzle piece animals are always out of the book and scattered all over my living room.  (I totally need to make a better storage piece her stuff so my living room doesn't look like a play room 24/7)
*She loves the parking garage we bought at the neighbors garage sale.  She is always standing or sitting on it.  Scares me to death to see her do things like that already.
*She loves the little Radio Flyer quad wheeled scooter from Grandma Joos'.  I have cute video of this.  I'll get it added.  She loves to ring the bell on it and expects an applause or screams of praise when she does it.
*Also loves the yellow little car that she can push or ride on from Grandma Christensen's, which has a little horn that she can honk also!!
*She loves to get into cupboards, but is pretty good to mostly stay in one cupboard, while I keep the others off limits.  I really need to get some safety latches installed.
*She is our little button pusher. Remotes, cell phones, TV, CD players, Computers.  You name it....if it has a button she's trying to get to it to push it's buttons.  She may even throw a fit until she get to have the cell phone that you are talking to.  She already can turn the TV remote off the AUX to the SAT so it will change the channels on the TV. Too smart for our good right now.
***I love that today I found her loved  puzzle pieces in the toilet...The first thing found in the toilet.  Here we go!!****

A Celebration!!

So this last weekend, the 14th and also on the the 31st of July we were able to celebrate with Derik Christensen (nephew) and the new Andrea Christensen.  It was wonderful to get to attend their sealing in the Idaho Falls Temple.  This was the same temple Chad and I were married in also.  It was so fun to have Andrea's grandfather be their sealer too.  Chad and I just enjoyed the commentary of who was coming up to congratulate them after the ceremony.  What a cute guy.  Also loved his little Catalac walker that he brought in and then turned it around to sit on it.  Just an adorable guy!!

So it was another warm day since the sealing was in the afternoon.  It was definitely toasting for the pictures, and we didn't really get many at all.  Sad to say.  But here is one of Kherrington playing in the fountain at the Loft Reception center the night of 31st.   

There was just no tearing her away from it.  She had a blast and the place was packed the entire time too.  Not that it helps to have such a huge family on the Christensen side that camped out all night.  So much fun.  And basically we had a repeat with great family and friends last weekend at the Thomas church.  Good time all around.

We are particularly excited cause Derik will start the Pharmacy program at ISU and so they live in Pokey, close to us.  So we're hoping to see them often!!

Back East

***Disclaimer: It's a long post with quite a few photos.***  

So at the end of May, (I know that was forever ago!!!) we were able to go to Connecticut to visit some great friends that we met in Pullman, the Barnes'.  These two were the glue that kept everyone we hung out with busy with a social life for the first 2 years we were in Pullman.  Then everyone else left us cause they graduated and shortly there afterward Mike finished his research and paper and got a job clear across the country in Hartford Connecticut.

So with the buddy passes that we got from Brek (thanks Brek!) We flew out to stay with them over Memorial day weekend.  The first day we spent flying.  Since we fly standby, we missed 1 of our connections and that put us getting in to Connecticut in the late evening around 10:30 if I remember right.  It was a long day, but was so good to be there with the.  Thanks for coming to pick us up even though it was later than we thought!!.  And to be greeted with the heat and humidity mixture was crazy, but we enjoyed quite the rainstorm that cooled everything off.

Thursday night we went and ate at a Guatemalan restaurant.  We all ordered way too much, but it was good. 

Here is us at dinner and you can see Chad's plantains.  he was way excited for them

Here are my sopas.  Reminded me of a tostada, they were great!!! 

 I also ordered a tamale, thinking they would be like what I was used to, but I thought they were nasty.  Chad realized afterward that he shouldn't have realized they weren't what I was thinking.  But Mike and Chad both had ordered them.  I figured they had to be great right!!  Not really.  I didn't mind the part that actually had some meat to it though.    Over all it was an awesome experience and I'd totally eat there again.  

Here are pictures with the owner and the top one is with the owner's daughter.  The restaurant was run by a family.

So the next day Mike got off a little early from work and we drove to Vermont to see Joseph Smith's birth place.  Above is the picture of the visitor's center that has a replica of the area at the time of his birth and the hearthstone that he was most likely born by.

This is the monument that was built to commemorate Joseph Smith..  On the tour they explained how they shipped and found the materials to make it.  Crazy amount of work went into it.  We also got to go on a ride to see foundations of the houses that were at one time there and went through beautiful trees.  I've never been to the sacred grove, but these trees reminded me of the pictures that I've seen of the area.  Made it come to life for me and strengthened my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith

What a great experience.  Our favorite spot we visited while in CT.

We then visited the Ben & Jerry's factory for a quick tour and got to try some Boston Cream Pie ice cream.  It was so good.  I haven't seen it in stores out here though. We were informed that you can basically get any of your favorite flavors through your grocery store if your willing to buy 6 pints of it, since that is the amount they are ordered in.  (I think that's how many don't hold me to it).

Then that night we headed to Boston..... and checked into the fancy hotel Omni-Parker House, where they were hosting prom, so there were quite a few dressed in formals

We then walked to dinner and around the area.. Very nice weather in the evening to go for a stroll

Here is the fancy restaurant that we ate at.  Definitely the most expensive place I've been too.  Chad and I's dinner came to $60, but it was neat to be able to have the outdoors brought indoors, by having windows that totally opened up except for a few pillars.

Here's a shot of the fountain with the moon the in background. It was a beautiful sight and to hear the water as you walked was fun....

Until we got to the Garden center and the Celtics had just won the last game to get into the finals.  Those fans are crazy!!  They kept chanting "Beat LA, Beat LA!!!" and at this point Lakers hadn't even won their last game yet.  It was crazy.  

So the next day we walked most of the Freedom Trail. 

We started out int he Boston Commons gardens

And since it was Memorial Day it had a a great flag display.  (picture from Mike and Jen, cause mine didn't turn out as great!!  Thanks guys)   We used a free app on my iPhone and learned all sorts of things about the stops we made.  The Boston Commons is a 44 acre park and oldest in the country.  Up until 1817 the park was used for public hangings but the past years it's been the host of citywide festivals and performances.

We stopped at the State house, and the Park Street Church.  The 4th stop was the Granary Burying Ground, where Paul Revere was buried, along with Samual Adams, John Hancock, and Robert Treat Paine-3 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
We then hit the King's Chapel and burying ground,, and the Benjamin Franklin Statue, Old Corner Book Store, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, an we saw the site of Boston Massacre.  What I didn't realize was that only 5 people were killed in the Massacre.  I always pictured it being on bigger scale than it was..

 We visited Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's House. 

The Old North Church that held the lanterns that signaled to Paul Revere and William Dawes.  

We then went back near Fanuiel Hall and ate a fun lunch and headed back to Connecticut.  And avoided going to Bunker Hill since it was a hot afternoon to do all that walking. And Jen was such a sport.  I was tired and I didn't have the excuse of being pregnant. Although it was way neat to see the historic sites for Memorial Day weekend.

So then we went to Jen and Mike's friends the Shamo's on Sunday and got to meet all their friends.  They were great.  Makes me realize how Mike and Jen surround themselves with great people...and we're privileged to be part of the group.  Then on Memorial Day we did the cinnamon and orange rolls in the morning and went to the parade.  It was great to be there with them, and we were sad to leave, but we headed out that afternoon to make it to SLC that late evening, due to rain storms in Detroit.

After being home we realized that our favorite part was probably just hanging out playing games like we used to.  Love you guys and so glad we got to visit you while you were in CT, but we're super stoked that you got to move closer.  Guess we'll have to plan a trip to Seattle now!!