i love this time of year

I am feeling very blessed. I am coming to realize that I am not in charge of my life. I mean, I get to make decisions but I am not in control of everything. And that is hard to take for a control freak like me. But I feel like maybe I've been worrying about those things I cannot control when I should be grateful for the things that I have. I am so grateful for Jesse. He is more than I could have ever asked for in a husband. I am grateful for our friends and our families. I am grateful for our home. But most of all I am grateful for my Savior. As we celebrate His birth, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for His life and sacrifice for me.

Back in the Magic Valley

I love this place! After my recent graduation (oh yeah!) we were able to move back to Rupert! For a while we didn't think we'd be able to sell our apartment contract in the Burg but last minute a couple wanted it and we were able to move in 3 days. So for now we are staying with Jesse's family and waiting for the remodel on our next home to be finished. There is so much going on at the house it is awesome to see more progress every day. I know we both just feel so blessed to be here.

Wow, we are lame :)

Ok, so we are not the best bloggers. But that is ok because we have been just a little busy. But good news! Jesse bought a 4-wheeler (yeah this is kind of old news because we got it earlier this spring, but i digress), he is just a few weeks from finishing his 2nd to last semester of grad school, I just had my senior violin recital last week which went amazing and I am 5 1/2 weeks from graduating and being done with school FOREVER! So I am just a little excited about being able to leave the burg and move on to warmer weather but while we are still here we have been trying to enjoy some of the local recreation.

Last week end we decided last minute we wanted to go fishing, so me, Jesse, Derek, Emily, Brooke, Tayne, and their soon to be born child :) all went fishing. About ten minutes after we got to Henry's Lake it started raining, then hailing, and it was cold. And their were fish swimming all around and nothing was biting! Just a little frustrating. Brooke and Derek both ended up reeling in a fish but after that we had no luck. But even though we got skunked and rained on I really had a good time. It was nice to get out of our little apartment and spend some time outside. I think we'll be heading to Yellowstone soon and I am super excited to see Old Faithful. (Yeah, I've lived about 3 hours away from it my whole life and never been, and I'm probably a little overexcited but I'm easily entertained).

Well, I can't say much else has been going on, just work, school, and lovin' life! I can't say enough how blessed I am for a wonderful family and an amazing husband. I love my life!

One year Anniversary

This Monkey stole Kylie's Banana! He kept running up to her and so she finally gave it up after he threatened to attack!

For our one year Anniversary we went back to Jesse's mission to Costa Rica!. We had so much fun! We saw monkeys, crocodiles, parrots, sloths, and a ton of other animals. We met many members there and got to spend some time with one of Jesse's converts and his son. We spent 3 days with a member, 1 night overlooking an active volcano, and 4 days on flamingo beach! We had a blast! We went the end of July and first week in August

The sunsets were beautiful!! So many times it looks like a postcard and it was hard to believe we were actually there!

July

We were so excited for the 4th of July. We got to spend 5 days away from school (yeah!) and spend some time in the sun. I got to go water skiing at tubing with Jesse.



And then Jesse had me show him how to slalom. I told him I would if he would try it. (He wasn't officially part of our family until he tried haha.) And guess what...


He gets up on his first try. Yeah. So he has no excuses anymore!
And yesterday was Jesse's birthday. He is 24! We had a fun time opening presents, playing frisbe and just hanging out.


This is him first thing in the morning. He woke up and asked where his presents were haha!


He blew out all 24 candles! Yeah!
We're doing awesome! I finished up my 5th semester of school and we're headed out to Costa Rica in 3 DAYS!!! So we'll update you when we get back!

Update

Ok, so a lot has happened. Jesse is now officially graduated! Over the break, we had our Larsen jeeping reunion. We went out to Bear Trap Cave and the Great Rift.

We also went out to the dam and played a little frisbee golf. I have to admit my throw was not
that impressive. :(

I've been trying out a few recipes lately. One was an attempt at fortune cookies.

Un-fortunately (because it's a fortune cookie), they were more like fortune tacos. But it's ok because Jesse likes Mexican food more anyways!
I'm still teaching, in fact I'm working on scheduling a studio recital if anyone wants to come. I've got 5 more weeks of school then summer VACATION! Today I got my passport so we are all good for going to Costa Rica. Jesse sold 2 cars today (he is a car selling maniac!) and we also got our paperwork approved so we can move over to Stonebrook in September!

Today was a pretty good day! Jesse is passing his Botany class with an A and he got a 95% on his test today! Whoo-hoo! I told him if he keeps this up he'll think he should have been a scientist haha. I registered for my classes next semester and found out I will only have 1 class on Thursdays (YES!) And even better it will be a soccer class (double YES!) I'm keeping really busy with my 8 students and loving every minute of it. Jesse keeps trying to think up new business ideas that him and Alan could try and still staying busy with all of his classes. We're just having fun and loving life.