Free at last!!

Words cannot describe my feelings on the day that Dan graduated. Extreme happiness, anxiety, fear, joy, and even a little saddness somehow creeped in there. Our whole marriage so far had been "once Dan graduates, we can...", and now the day was here. No more classes that took up more time than a full-time job (ceramics 2 and 3), no more teachers who tell you on the first day of class that only 10% were going to pass (Organic Chemestry), no more assignments that had nothing, whatsoever, to do with the class (Art Seminar), no more winters that last 8 months of the year and get to -30, no more Rexburg cops, and sadly, no more friends. As much as I loved the idea of getting the heck out of Idaho, I had forgotten that leaving Idaho meant saying good-bye to the people who made life there more than tolerable. When Dan and I first got married, I hated it in Idaho. No hint of a joke there at all. Then, we met Rachel and Bryce. The next semester we had them, Preston and Jenny, and Aaron and Lindsay. And let's not forget Sam. The friendships Dan and I formed at BYU-I are some of the best that I've ever had, and I can honestly say that I wish our time there wasn't over so we could still get together and kick the boy's rears in Hand and Foot or Settler's of Catan instead of being across the country from each other living in the "real world".

Happy Easter (really late...)

I know these are really late!!! Most of the next few posts will probably be late... I am such a slacker when it comes to blogging. I try not to be, but things are pretty busy around here...12 people in one house. Craziness!! It has been a lot of fun, tho. Jayden loved Easter!! Especially the fact that no one, no matter how much we begged, kept their baskets off the floor. Jayden had his first taste of chocolate, jelly beans, peeps, and all other candy. Jelly beans are his favorite. In fact, one night we were getting ready for bed and he wanted NOTHING to do with me. I was a little hurt, so trying to mask it, I joked, "Hey, Jay, give Mommy a hug and I'll give you a jelly bean." Bad idea. He flew to me!! He gave me the biggest hug, slopped a huge kiss on my lips, then pointed to the Easter basket and said something must have meant jelly bean. I could not believe it. After he ate the jelly bean, he grabbed his toothbrush and let us finish putting him to bed. He is too smart sometimes.

"Brudders"

Jayden and Benjamin are the best of buds. In this picture, Benji decided that since Jay was driving, he needed some added protection... :) The other day, Lecia was having a Young Women's presidency meeting at her house. One of her counselors brought her little boy with her. This little boy was not exactly nice to Jayden. Anything Jay did, it was bad, and Jayden wasn't allowed to play with anything, even his own toys. So, after a few minutes of this, Benji stepped between this little boy and Jayden, with his hands on his hips and a very stern look on his face, and said: "You be nice to Jayden!! He's my brudder!!!" It took everything to not cry at that! After that, Benji was Jayden's protector from this little boy. Jayden is such a sweet little boy, and it was breaking my heart to see this little boy be mean to him. Benjamin stepping in like that to make sure that my little baby was treated with the sweetness and love that he deserves overwhelmed me with gratitude and love towards the friendship that they have. He may drive me nuts at some times, but it was so awesome to see him claim Jayden as his "brudder", not nephew.