Spring Break and Rexburg

The kids were on Spring Break this last week.  Dave, Emmie, Talbie, and I

were able to go to Rexburg and stay with the Gee's and check out BYU-I

with Talbie.  Bronson stayed home to take care of the pets and hang out with

his grandpa :)

As soon as we arrived, Abram gave us the tour

and showed us his bunk beds.  I just love this little guy!

 We fell in love with baby Pace.  This was the first time meeting him :)

 Isabelle and Abram were busy making pictures the whole

time we were there.  Abram worked on one for me for 2 days

and I forgot it :(.  Amy, you'll have to have him mail me one!

 On Friday morning we started our trek around Rexburg

and BYU-I campus.  Our first stop was the public library.

Talbie wants to be sure she can find her way around and where

to find her books!

 We found her dorms right away and parked there

to start our tour.  She will be staying in the dorms this fall.

 We ate lunch at the big eatery they have there.  

She was excited about all the choices :)

 Another important stop - the library on campus.

 We were there as the winter semester was ending and all the

students were moving out.  Even though Talbie was SO EMBARASSED,

I knocked on her dorm room and asked if we could take a look :)

The girls were so nice and they gave us a little tour of the room she will be staying in.

It was so nice because she could see how much storage space she will have and

what the little kitchen looks like.

 We ended our day at the temple for a picture.  We were lucky enough to go to a session

with Amy and Shawn on Thursday night when we got into town.  It was their

ward temple night.

 Talbie is so excited about starting school here this fall.  This tour

made it more real for her and we were able to get all of our

questions answered and that really set her at ease.

I'm thankful the Gee's are there so she will have a little

"home away from home."

Here is a picture of the Gee's cute home.

 Beautiful Amy and Isabelle, Pace, and Abram

 Emmie and Maddie were inseparable the entire time.

They are the same age and size!

 Dave and Pace

 For a final adventure, Abram and Nolan took Dave on a hike to

the den they found close to their house.  They had to cross some

muddy spots but Dave wasn't worried because Abram kept assuring him,

"I know the land!"

 Kami showed us the secret to sock curlers and we tried them

out last night for the first time.

 They are our knew favorite way to do our hair!

Thank you Gee family for such a fun time and letting us stay with you.

We always hate to leave when we visit :)

I Had Another Birthday

I had another birthday in March.  I'm really getting up there in age :)

Dave bought me this beautiful painting (which he spent way too much money on!)

It has always been one of my favorites.  It's title

"Christ Walking on the Water."

 Emmie decorated the stairs.  So fun!

 My parents took me and Brittany up to Park City to see my brother

perform at the Montage.  He runs in to celebrities all the time and gets a lot of

music connections working here.  We didn't get to see anyone exciting but it

was great to hear him play and the food was delicious!

Moving Things Around...

With Maddie getting married, we had an extra bedroom in our house

(which hasn't happened since before Emmie was born)

so we moved some things around a bit.

First of all, for Emmie's 12th birthday, she just wanted her room

remodeled.  She picked out the paint color and we sold her old furniture

(that she thought was too "baby looking.")

It was perfect timing because with Maddie moving out, we just used her

old bed and it fit in her room perfectly!

We still have to hang her pictures but she got a new dresser and 

it looks really cute!

 Here are pictures of Maddie starting to box up her things

and move out. 

 It's a funny feeling to have one of your kids move out, permanently.

I was so excited for her and Logan to get married and start their

life together.  But I didn't like the feeling of "loosing" one of my kids

and not have them close to me.

 Logan is an amazing man!  He is one the hardest workers I know!

I know a lot of really hard workers (like Dave) and he ranks

up there with all of them.

 The minute Maddie was gone, Bronson started his

project because he was moving downstairs to her old room.

I painted the pink walls and he started!

 He invented his bed and desk and made everything for $100

I love the idea of having his bed elevated and help up by chains

(and a lot of screws!)

It utilizes so much wasted space.

  Here are pictures of the finished project.

 

Once Bronson got settled in his new room, Dave began work on his new office!

He has been on cloud nine getting it all set up.

I didn't think he needed a new flat screen tv in the office, but he did ;)

There have been many times he has been up there "working"

and I catch him watching a movie!

I like to harass him about it but he deserves a little down time once in awhile.

This office has been so wonderful because he can now hang his degrees and

awards he received from his time he was with the Sheriff's Department.

The closet is filled with all his guns and ammo!

 Here is Logan and Maddie's new apt.  Obviously the "before" picture

  

Maddie has A LOT of clothes.  She filled every closet
in the place.  Logan got a little section for all his flannel shirts ;)

 They have really gotten this place looking cute!
They were able to buy a couch, used washer and dryer, and this
rug.  It's not really my style of rug but if you know Maddie, you
know it is definitely hers :)

They found this couch at IKEA and it's perfect for a small apartment.
It makes out into a bed, has storage for blankets, and then
folds down to a couch.

 Poor Talbie - she has been the only one to not get an upgrade

but she will be leaving for BYU Idaho in a few months and she will

have a new place to decorate :)

Maddie's Showers and Such...

Once Maddie and Logan returned from their honeymoon,

the showers started flowing :)

Everyone has been so kind, generous, and thoughtful!

The first shower was held by Logan's family.

It was so nice and of course, I didn't take a single picture.

Logan's mom gave them a new vacuum and she was given many nice

gifts and gift cards.  My mom gave her a huge set of pans!

Then our ward showered her with much love!

Many contributed to a group gift and Brittany (who was in charge

of the buying the gift) was able to get her a nice cast iron pot for making soups

and a Kitchen Aid mixer!

Then we had a shower for our sides of the family!

No one from the Knowles side came, which was too bad :(

 Before they decided to get married in Vegas, Maddie found this darling 

figurine from the 1940's that she ordered online.  It was going to be their cake topper.

Isn't it cute?

 Cute cousins - Maddie, Talbie, Markelle, and Ember

 Everyone has really been so kind and generous!  They are completely set

up with everything they need.  It's so touching to see how much love and support

come from friends and family!