11 Years

11 Years seem like such a long time, but with Kellen, it doesn't feel that long at all. We have been through ups and downs, and there was one point where I was not sure we were going to get through but I can say with all I am that I have never been happier in my life. Sure, it would be nice to be closer to family but we both feel that this is where we are supposed to be in our lives. I am so thankful for this man and for all that he does to support our family.

We decided to try our a restaurant in downtown St. Joe that has a rooftop area. We timed it so we could be there at sunset. We had to wait a while, but it was perfect.

The food was ok, but the company was amazing

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Ryebells was a great place to celebrate our 11 years together. I am not sure I am meant to eat outside in the humidity, but I sure loved being with Kellen. He is one amazing man!

P.S. while we were waiting for a table we walked to the Bluff and looked at the old cars, here are some because I love old cars :)

The BUG

This past year has been full of changes. First, right after we moved into our house, my husband's boss asked him if we wanted to move to Atlanta. We put our house up for sale, and tried, then that fell through when the company started not doing very well. Then, my husband decided he wanted to go to law school. He studied, took the expensive test, and applied for schools (all at a very high cost for admissions applications fees). He was invited to interview at a few schools, one being Northwestern in Chicago (a place he has wanted to go forever). We booked our tickets, and paid more fees- THEN he decided that law school just didn't feel right. So we canceled, and switched our tickets (more fees).

Let me back up- 2 years ago, he and his former boss (and really good friend) decided they were going to apply for Phd programs. In order to go to graduate school, there are graduate tests for example: the MCAT, LSAT, GMAT and another G test that I can't remember. SO they got up early every morning, studied for the GMAT and took the test (another fee!) Kellen got a REALLY good score. He is in the 98th percentile! So, he then applied for schools. 7 to be exact- all at a high fee (when I say high- I mean triple digits) After we applied, we felt it wasn't the right time to go, SO back to present day, These fees all add up!
Today, he is off to Phoenix. He is interviewing for a graduate program at Arizona State. They loved his application, and our really good friends (that former boss and friend I talked about earlier) are attending the same school (for his PHD).
SO, I know that this blog has been filled with changes in what we are doing- a lot! But hopefully this is the last one- but it is filled with ifs:
If he gets in,
If we can rent our house
If he can keep his job (as a consultant analyst)
If we can find a place to rent for the same amount that we rent our house for- or less
If , IF, IF, IF, IF....
Wow, this is a downer post, but it is time for Kellen to be happy and do what he wants to do! He is not very busy at work, and when it is slow, you start to not like your job- right?
So I am asking everyone out there in blog land, will you pray for my husband today?
Oh, I forgot to mention, he has the stomach flu.
Reed and Mady were up all night Saturday with it, Patrick had it Monday night, and now, Kellen is sick. Hopefully it will pass soon, the kids were only sick for about 6 hours...
His flight leaves at 2 :)
On that note... I need to go and sanitize...

My husband

Reed is a great photographer. He is fascinated with my camera. I get a lot of random shots of toys, the t.v. the computer and of Kellen. But this picture, I love. It shows the wisdom of a father. It shows his beautiful blue eyes, and his faint smile. I love this guy!
Kellen had his birthday up at the cabin. It was also Valentine's day. He is the best V-Day present I could ever ask for! I made him a cake early that morning, then we drove up to Island Park. We were waiting for his sister to arrive, so we waited until very late to celebrate the birthday boy.
I couldn't ask for a better friend, or a better father for my children. I love him more than I could ever imagine. For his birthday, I bought him Rock Band. I think he loved that present more than me that day! :)
This was the first birthday he has been with his parents for over 4 years. It was great to be with family to celebrate Kellen!

New York, New York- A place so nice they named it twice...

Well, we are back. Technically I am the only one back, we got home late Sunday (or early Monday) then Kellen left for Atlanta on a business trip at 6:30 Monday morning. I was very spoiled to be with him for 5 days, and now I am adjusting to not having him around.
We did so much that it would bore you with all the pictures, so I am trying to figure out how to tell you about our trip: Here goes :)
My mom and aunt arrived Tuesday evening, after Kellen worked a half day, we left Wednesday afternoon. I cried a lot on the 20 min ride to the airport, I have never left anyone but Patrick, and he was only away for 1 night. A few times on the trip I thought to myself that I should have eased into this a little at a time, it was really hard, but so worth it!
We took double decker bus tours of all the tourist spots, but my favorite was the Brooklyn tour- our tour guide was born and raised there, and has driven a cab for 38 years. He told us all the best places to eat and play.
On Sept. 11th, we were able to go to Ground Zero. It was very humbling to see where the towers fell, and all the families of those who lost their life that day seven years ago.
We also were able to tour Yankee Stadium. On that tour we got to sit in the press box, sit in the dugout, and tour Monument Park (a memorial to some of the greatest Yankees players that is in center field). It was so wonderful to look at Kellen's face and see how excited he was to be in this stadium. He has been a Yankees fan all his life, passed down from his dad, so to be there was amazing! Our tour guide was one of the original guides that started tours 30+ years ago. Also on the tour was Jessica Steinbrener (the owner's daughter) It was so fun to be at that historic stadium!
We ate our meals at fun spots- like The Hard Rock, and Hell's Kitchen-(wonderful food, you can find abosolutely ANY type of cuisine there. One tour guide said if you tried to eat in a different resturant for every meal in New York, it would take 52 years!)
My favorite part was going to the Broadway show WICKED! It was amazing- I can't believe they can put on that production 7 times a week! We chose this show since this trip was for our 6 year anniversary, and on our first date we saw the play The Wizard of Oz. Wicked is a prequel to that story so it was fitting- right? :)
It rained all day on Friday so the Yankees game was canceled (after we sat at the stadium for 3 1/2 hours waiting for someone to make a decision). We went back Saturday for the game. I had fun, but for Kellen- it was a dream come true. We had great seats and it was a beautiful night.
We had a wonderful trip. I got my fill of drunk people and I have never seen so many Starbucks in one place. They are really on EVERY corner! (But they always have bathrooms so it is nice to see them sometimes!)
I am so thankful that I have a wonderful husband who takes me along on his adventures. I had so much fun, except for the subway rides! I am glad that I don't live with that many people and I am thankful that I can look out my window and it is clean, I can see grass, flowers, birds, and friendly people! I am SO glad we are home, my kids did wonderful (or so my mom said). I want to thank all the sweet ladies that helped shuttle my kids to their various activities, I am so thankful we live in a great neighborhood with such great people!

Farewell

We are off on a trip to New York!! My mom and aunt have come to stay with my kids, and Kellen and I are headed for the Big Apple! See you next week :)

6 years and 100 posts!... (giveaway also!!)

GIVEAWAY NOTICE:
I am so sorry, but it has been a crazy, busy weekend and week. The giveaway drawing has been postponed until tomorrow- Thursday Sept. 4th. We have been cleaning out the garage, building shelves in the garage, preparing my preschool lesson for tomorrow, and CANNING PEACHES! Please forgive the inconvience :) See you tomorrow!! (Hopefully!)





Warning: This is an anniversary post so it is pretty mushy. If you are faint hearted, you may choose to just look at the pictures :)

Wow, I can't believe it has been 6 years! I never knew I could be so happy! I married my best friend, and we have had so many blessings given to us in these past years. I am so thankful for our knowledge that we can be together forever.
We said we were not going to get each other anything, but we never listen. I made him a card album for his desk at work, and gave him a BSU shirt because I shrunk his last one so it now fits me. He came home for lunch (after telling me he wasn't going to be home because of a meeting). He walked in just about the time we were married and brought me roses and daisies!! :) My favorite. Then he brought in the mail that had Reba McEntire concert tickets- she has always been my favorite singer. What a fun day. Tonight we are going to dinner because some friends offered to babysit- THANKS AMBER!! I am so lucky to be married to the love of my life!

And because this is my 100th Post, I am going to join the giveaway gang and give something fun away! So, if you are just blog stalking, or if you have been catching up on our lives for awhile- EVERYONE- leave me a little comment and you will be entered. I should warn you that my last winner (Casie) still has not recieved her giveaway prize, it is sitting here, all packaged with the address on it- I have even been in I.F. to give it to her personally, but alas, here is sits- I PROMISE to send it!!
If you want more than one entry, there are a few ways to do that:
1- Be a fist time commenter. I know there are a few people who check up on us, who don't say hi (because you have told me). SO break out of silence and say hello!
2- Since this is an anniversary post: Kiss and hug your significant other- if you don't have one, then hug your mom and tell her you love her, still no luck, then PROMISE me you will hug a family member or friend in the next day!
3- Take a bubble bath. I know, random, but I feel like every woman needs a nice time out once in a while.
4- Return the favor- do something for someone in your life -anyone- who you haven't appreciated in a while such as a neighbor who watched your house for 2 weeks while you were away and I, I mean you haven't given them their cookies or their thank you card, and we have been home for 2 weeks :). Or maybe your mom who has frozen corn and canned fruit for you the past 25 years and you eat it every time thinking "I should really do more than just thank her". Or your dad who has grown the 1/2 acre garden for the past 30+ years and has given you more than you can handle of fresh produce. you know, things like that :)

I think I will do the drawing on Wednesday the 3rd of September, so Good luck, and Happy Anniversary to my best friend, Kellen I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND FOR ALWAYS :)

Yellow walls

On Father's day, Kellen was spoiled with fun man stuff,

And this yummy Oreo Madness cake which you can find the recipe for here from my friend Holly (click on desserts). What a busy, fun-filled week with a lot of late nights. We were so glad that my parents came to help and we were so very happy that Kellen got home safely.

We had an exciting week of painting the kitchen, finishing planting our garden, muliple trips to "The Man Store" (Lowe's) and Wal-Mart, playing with our cousin, visiting with 2 sets of Grandparents, all of this equals 3 sick kids, and 2 tired parents and Daddy wasn't even here! Do you remember the white primed wall? Now it is yellow!! I am very excited to have it done :)

Now I just need to get some decorating ideas to make it look cute around my hutch. Any ideas?

Engagement Memories

WHEW, it has been an eventful weekend!

Sunday was our 6 year anniversary of when Kellen proposed. That day, Kellen took me down to the greenbelt across from the Temple (in Idaho Falls). His mom had made a delicious picnic brunch for my birthday (the next day). Kellen brought out my birthday presents and some roses. When he "counted" the roses, there was one missing, so he went to find it. When he brought it back and handed it to me my ring slid down the stem. I was in tears and when he asked me to marry him, all I could do was nod :) I am so thankful for this wonderful man and all he has done for me. I never thought I would find someone so amazing and I have been blessed every day by him. I fall in love with him everyday! Happy Engagement Anniversary Kellen- I LOVE YOU!!

And it was Dad Zollinger's birthday- We love you!!