Overdue update

Well I have found some time to say a few words to update you guys.  So it has been a couple of months since the last time.  Things have been moving along with our little family.  Katelyn was born of course and is now two months old.  She is such a cute little girl.  Just recently she has been smiling and jabbering to us.  She has such a big smile and some of the cutest cooing sounds.  We think that she is going to be a daddy's girl.  She loves to be in my arms or next to me.  Don't get me wrong I am loving every moment.

Caleb is turning two in the 15th of August.  Which is in a couple of days.  Ahhhhhh!!!  Where has time gone.  He is such a busy body.  Which means that he can get into a lot of mischief or tries to help us out by copying our every move.  It can be cute at times.  His way of letting us know what he wants is very clear, he basically screams at us to get his point across.  Even if it is just to say hi.

Carolyn has finished her summer semester early.  She did pretty well in these classes.  Even though they were tedious she stuck through it all and got her work done.  Fall semester begins on the 25th for her and she is going to go 3/4 time.

I am starting school on the 22nd.  I'm taking math 1050.  I have also talked to an advisor from USU and have come up with a schedule to help me along with my degree.  So in the spring I might start going 1/2 time one class in SLCC and the other at USU at an off campus building.  That should do wonders on my life and am debating if I should or not.

So this year I have been stung by hornets or a bee three times.  The most recent one has made my arm swell up and itch like crazy.  I am getting nervous that I am becoming allergic to these stings.  They have become worse with every sting.  The places that I have been stung are on a finger, on the back of my neck and on my arm.  I don't like being stung and I might have a new fear that I am going to have to overcome.

In July we became the first siblings on both sides of the family to get a mini-van.  We bought a 2009 Chrysler Town and Country for $19,000.  It has all the hook ups and leather seats.  We were amazed at hollow the price was at.

As for our yard, the weeds are doing just great and the grass is sticking around abut not happy.  They are waiting for the cool air to come around and stay.  It doesn't look like much now but wait till we get on top of it all.

A Little Girl

So last night Carolyn was having some contractions and they were not making her feel so good. She tried to go to go to sleep but they kept her awake. As she tried to walk it off her water partially broke. So she woke me up and I looked at the clock and it was around 11:30. So at that moment we had only an hour and a half of sleep. So we got all of our stuff out to the car and off to grandma's house to drop off Caleb. It was going to be a long trip to the hospital. Her contractions were about six minutes apart and getting stronger and stronger with each one. By the time we got to the hospital she could barely stand them. So the nurses got her in as quickly as possible and get the epidural in as well. She got all of that in by 2:00. So we waited around,tried to get some more sleep, till qbaby wanted to come. At 5:15 the doctors came in checked Carolyn and by 5:22 we were pushing. She gave three sets of ten second pushes and by 5:29 our little girl came into this world. She is so beautiful. She is already got the feeding part down and hasn't made too much of a fuss about being here. Carolyn is doing great and is such a trooper. We also can't wait till we get Caleb here to meet his little sister. Hope all is well with you guys and that you are happy. Talk to you guys later.

One project semi-done for the year

Well I put the last piece of wood on the outside of our shed yesterday. All of the outside is doneexceptfor the paint job that will have to wait till later this year. Now it is time to get the inside organized and some shelves put in so we can get things out of our house. So we are shifting priorities from shed to yard. I need to trench the yard for the sprinkler pipes and then weed the entire backyard. Next we will put topsoil down and then we will seed it all for grass. That is where we stand. Projected finish date: mid June. Carolyn has started her summer classes. She is in Criminal Justice and an Introduction course to computer systems. She likes the later one and doesn't care for the other. There is just a lot of reading and they use a lot of words that don't make sense to her. She is trying to get ahead so she can have a buffer for when the baby comes. Which could be in the next three weeks! Crazy! She is feeling contraction but they are not consistent nor close together to be worried. She is also not dilated at all. I am just working away and getting ready for the spring changeout at work. My calling is going well. We area doing some great things and helping people along the way. Caleb just keeps growing and growing. He is acting more and more like a two year old. He is becoming quite a stud muffin and can be so hilarious at times. We love him and would not want him another way. He loves to go to the park, walk Ginger, push strollers and play all the time. Ginger is Ginger. I would like to thank all of the mothers in the world who have helped so many of us become better people. Truly you are Daughters of God sent here to take care of us poor helpless men. Praises to you all and may heaven smile down upon you all. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!

Busy on Sundays

Well the only reason that I have not posted anything in the last month is because I am so busy on Sundays with this calling of mine. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed going out and visiting people and having meetings and being a part of this ward. I feel like I am finally contributing to a ward. The reason I'm able to post something today is because Carolyn and Caleb are sick and I don't have any meetings today. So let's see what has happened in this past month?

Dad and I have put together most of our shed and I think we will be able to finish it this week. While we were doing that I have been trying to prepare for a sprinkler system, grass seed, trees, and some flowers that will need to be installed here soon, within the next couple of weeks. I have tried to get the front yard looking better by weeding and taking out the dandelions in the grass. We are looking at spraying our cherry tree with in the next couple of weeks as well as all of our other fruit. Carolyn has bee such a trooper in helping out in whichever way she can without hitting herself while pregnant. She has done some amazing things that I think most pregnant women wouldn't even think of doing. Yet she still feels like she should do more to help me out. I keep telling her that she is doing just great with what she is already doing.

The semester is all done and over with. I think I received an A in my writing class. Carolyn got a B+ in stats and we are waiting for the physics grade. We are glad that these classes are over. My next class will be math 1050, college algebra, and will start in August. Unfortunately for Carolyn some mistakes were made by UVU and she has to take summer classes. So she won't get a brake from school till next year. She is such a trooper. Somehow she finds a way to take care of her family and go to school half-time and sometimes full-time.

Caleb is doing great. He is sick right now because he has three new teeth coming in. His vocabulary is growing but still needs to be fine tuned for other people to understand him. Isn't it interesting how parents can understand what their child is saying but have a hard time understanding someone else's kid. Anyways, he is saying a lot, has conversations with us (in his own language) and tries to say what we say, the good and the bad. I have said "shoot" a couple of times and he tries to copy it. Well, he comes close but sounds like another word. I will work on the words I use.

Ginger is just dying to have a backyard and good weather. She gets cooped up all day and just wants to run around. We need to find time to go to the park so she can do just that. She is a good puppy but has her teenage moments of rebellion. She is learning like the rest of us how to live with one another.

I hope all is well with you guys and it sounds like you are all keeping busy like me. Keep posting and I shall do the same, when I can. Below are some pics for you to enjoy.

Working in the yard

Blowing Bubbles

No it is not what you think.  Well it might be.  The truth is that Caleb blew his first bubbles recently.  These bubbles are the soap bubbles from a bottle.  At first he was blowing too soft.  Now he blows them better than Carolyn and me.  He gets so excited to see them fly.  When he is around other kids and people he gets shy and goes back to blowing softly.  He really loves to blow bubbles while taking a bath.  He is such a cute kidd.

Calebs vocabulary is getting better.  He can now tell us the he wants to go outside/inside by saying "sigh" and pointing in that direction.  He can say shoes, potty, wa wa, nana (banana), dada, mama, papa, tee (to brush his teeth), and others that I cant remember.  He loves to wear other people's shoes and walk around in them, copy Carolyn and I in whatever we do.  Basically he just loves to have fun.

In our yard we are preparing to pour cement for our shed this Wednesday.  It is 10' x 16' and will be located in the southeast corner of our yard.  On the west side of our house we are putting together a berry garden.  We have planted blackberries, strawberries and a grape.  We are putting a trellis up this year so that they can grow on that.  In the southwest corner we have planted an apple tree, peach tree and a plum tree.  Just north of the shed will be our vegetable garden.  This month I hope I will be able to get our sprinkler system in as well as grass seed down on the areas where we want grass.  Then next month we will plant our garden.  Our cherry tree is just starting to bloom.  There are a couple of dozen white flowers on the tips of some of the branches.  We are just so excited to put together our yard.  It is a lot of fun and will be so enjoyable to relax in.

School is going great.  Just three weeks left!  I have one paper left to write and then all of them to review, edit, beautify and prepare to be handed in for the final.  Carolyn is preparing for her finals as well. 

Ginger is just antsy to get outside and run around with the wind in her ears and jowles.  She is a good dog for the most part and is a good babysitter when we need it.

Have a great week and talk to you later.

Yard Work Season

So Saturday was the beginning of our yard work season.  Well it has been going on for awhile now but we actually got plants into our backyard.  We planted one apple tree, one peach tree, ten asparagus plants, and six blackberry plants.  The next things that will be planted are as follows: 50 strawberry plants, one plum tree, and a grape vine.  We are excited to be able to get outside and enjoy the sun a little bit more.  Caleb and I even got a sunburn.  He got it worse than I did on his face.  Funny story, so Carolyn and I forgot to put sunscreen on and noticed that he was getting red.  So we put it on and soon after he did a face plant in the dirt.  This is what he looked like after

Classic moment that will go down in our memories.  He did not cry because he heard us laughing and he decided to laugh about it as well.  What a great kid?

So here are some other pics that we took while we worked.

So keep up the good work and live long and prosper.  We will talk to you all soon.

The past few weeks or so....

So my time has got a little more precious to me now.  I have a new calling in the ward that seems like it is going to take up more of it.  I am now the second councilor in the elders quorum presidency.  The sad part about this is that we are still learning everyones names and faces.  I don't know who to help because I dont know who they are or even where they live.  That will come in time though and with patience.  Our presidency looks like a hard working bunch of guys so this should be a great experience for me to break even more out of my shell.

Midterms have come and gone.  Boy what a rush.  As the group leader working on this project of Eating Habits, I had to turn everyone's work in.  I had to wait for people for almost the entire evening everything was due.  She finally got it to me ten minutes before the deadline and I so I prepared her things and started to send them five minutes before the deadline.  Well there was so much information that the upload process took 15 minutes.  I was mad that it took so long.  Now it says that I submitted it late.  Hopefully the teacher will understand this and excuse us from being late.

Carolyn has decided to go the IT route in school.  She is leaving Computer Science behind and looking forward to this new field.  She seems to be interested in the security sytems so we'll see what she goes into.  School is going just okay for her.  She loves Statistics more than Calculus and hates Physics.  In that class there is just too much information thrown at you in too little time.

Caleb is now being able to make sounds that sound like words.  We know what he is trying to say but it is not the word.  Still it is very helpful knowing what he wants instead of guessing.  He makes animals sounds of a dog, cat, chicken, lion, cow, duck, and on good days a horse, frog and a goose.  He knows what a car and a train sound like as well.  He is so smart and cute.  We are very grateful to have him in our family.

We are doing well and surviving this thing called life.  I hope you are all doing the same.  Love you

Winter Camping

 No this is not winter camping but he does look comfortable.

 His first bubble bath

 Our first time going snowshoeing up in AF canyon above Tibble Fork res.  We also went sledding.  We should have brought the hiking backpack cause we had to carry Caleb in our arms the entire way.  He did not like being in his snow gear.

 Attempting to go sledding

 Coral Pink Sand Dunes was the destination of our camping vacation this past week.  Carolyn has never gone camping in the winter time so we decided to try it out.  It was only cold at night and 50's in the afternoon.  We were the only ones in the campsite the first night and then one trailer moved in for the second night.

 Caleb and Ginger had a blast walking around the sand dunes.  Caleb amazingly walked most of the way across the park, which was like a half mile.

 That is supposed to be his hand print

 Family Picture with the dunes in the background

 On our way home we decided to go drive through Zions.  The clouds were perfect and the rain was refreshing.  Going through the tunnel was awesome.  I dont remember going in a tunnel that long.

He was helping mommy decorate the sugar cookies.  He just loves to watch/help us cook.  He is so awesome.

Well school is going ok for the both of us.  I am working on a big report about Dieting programs.  I thought that I should emerse myself in the subject so I am trying to eat healthy, but these holidays brings out such tasty treats that I can't resist.

Carolyn is grasping physics and statistics.  It is hard for her but she is still passing.  Wish her luck as these chapters get harder and harder.

We hope that your Valentines Day was mushy and full of love.  We are sorry that we did not get the chance to say that we love you on that day.  Our lives are full.  We do love you and wish the best for you all.  Love and Peace

What's up?

So here we are again. Sitting down to take another look on the past and reflecting on what we have accomplished......... Not much to think about. It has been kind of a slow week but I will go over a few things with you.
To start off the week I went to the annual Green Conference up at the South Towne Expo Center. I had a headache after the first few hours. So much information in so little time can put a toll on your brain. It was worth it though. I now feel like an expert on drip systems. I still lack the experience of installing them, which is a whole lot more educational than hearing someone speak about it. It is a good thing that I am in need of a few zones here at home to practice with. Lots of work is waiting for me in the spring.

Speaking of yard work, sorry I have not posted any pictures yet of what it looks like. It has been muddy now for a while and have not dared to walk out there.

School is going ok for me. I think I am being voted in for group leader on this report that we are supposed to do for the final. I did not even campaign for this. So wish me luck and I hope I do a good job.

We went to the dollar movie theater and experimented with Caleb to see if he could sit through an entire movie. Nope! We saw chipwrecked and he paid attention to the exciting parts. He only had to leave the theater twice or so. Thank heavens the row behind us was empty too, so he could wander around a little as well.

When we got home from the movie we found a rabbit that had just been hit on the road right in front of our driveway. I had to pick it up or Ginger would surely get it. Well it was in bad pe so I had to finish it off. I felt bad for the little guy. It is in heaven now so no worries.

I hope all is well for you and your weeks have been blessed.

Resolutions for 2012

Well another year has already started and I haven't posted my resolutions. I would like to do so now.
Last year I made it down to 195 lbs. on the Tahitian Noni Fit diet plan. I was amazed at the results and wanted to keep it that way. Then along came a move and then winter. Well now I am back up to 210 lbs. and want it off. To do that we got memberships at the fitness center and plan to go there at least twice a week.
Last year was a great year. We were able to buy a home and do some other things. This year we want to spend/save our money even better so we can do even more things and have even more fun.
Speaking of money, we have started a long project on finishing up our backyard. I will take pictures to show you our progress. We hope to get it somewhat decent to have a party at our place this fall.
Since we are Sunday school teachers I would like to study more, like when I was on my mission type of study.
Carolyn has made a goal to read 30 minutes a day. She has already finished two books and well into the third. It has only been two and a half weeks and she is doing great.
Since school time is here, we would like to get a good grades. Carolyn is taking physics and statistics and I am taking intermediate writing. All of these classes will be a great experience for both of us.
Caleb's goals for this year is to talk, so mom and dad don't go crazy, and to be potty trained, to help out on cutting back on some of the expenses.
Ginger's goal is to run, jump, and play outside with dad or Caleb (but it is not like she doesn't do that already, she just wants more).
Well that is about all or most of our goals for this year. It looks like you guys are setting some pretty awesome goals too. Keep up the good work and we'll do this again sometime.

Christmas Pics

 Caleb is as happy as ever

 Lights at Temple Square

 It was a cold family outing

 Caleb didn't know what to do with all of his presents so Mommy and Daddy had to help him out

 Ginger has done this before and dove right into her presents.  She then decided to help Caleb open his presents because he was going too slow.

 Look at all the wonderful things Brandon got

 This is a gift from Grandma Kidd.  We wanted to show her that we are playing with it.

 Brandon and Dad went up to Idaho this past week and got a good amount of ducks.  There were hardly and geese but we took advantage of most of our opportunites.  It was one of the best shooting days of Brandon's hunting history.  Four birds with seven shots in one day.  He thinks it was because of the gun he was using (someone elses).

This is Carolyn's best gift this year.  Earings with diamonds and her birthstone in them.  She also got some bubble bath soap and a popcorn maker for family nights.

All in all it was a great couple of weeks for us KIDDS here in American Fork.  We hope that everything went well for all of you too.  Have a great start to this new year and we will see you all later on in this year.  Right?