Work Shower

My work shower was so fun. My co-workers spoiled Nola and I. We got clothes, toys and our pack-n-play. My favorite gift was for me the mom to be. The midwife I work with got me a spa package. I cried. I am so excited to use it.

One of my co-workers made this scrap book for Nola with her name on it. The pages are all done. All I have to do is put pictures in it. Now that is my kind of a gift.

Devin and I are so grateful to all of you who have helped us in preparing for our little girl.

We truly are blessed to have so many of you in our lives. Nola does not yet know

what is waiting for her in all of you.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE LOVE YOU ALL!

I love this time of year.

I love the fall when the air starts to cool off and the leaves change colors. The air is crisp and it has a distinct smell. The heat lifts and you feel like you can breathe again.

Wake Boarding

Devin and Jared

Jared the "PRO"

Devin

Jared doing one of his flips. The feature on the Camera

I loved was the sports feature that was able to capture

his entire flip.

Just a few of the pictures we took playing with our new toy.

Still so much to play with and learn.

Home part II

I was so tired from traveling last week I really didn't go into to much detail about my trip. I had originally planned on going home that weekend because our oldest niece Ivie was baptised. Well when I found out I was pregnant mom decided to have a Baby shower while I was home. It was so good to see my family and I had a hard time keeping my emotions in check. I never thought I would say this, but It was good to have my brothers teasing me about my big belly. You know you are in Utah when as soon as Ivie was done getting dunked the boys starting talking about BYU football. AAAAAHHHHH I love home. I with my sister's in tow headed up to Star Valley to see Dev's family for a couple nights. It was so fun to hang out with Kelli and James and do what sister's do. Sing, laugh and talk. We had a good visit in Wyoming and my shower was some what continued up there. I was so spoiled.....well Nola got spoiled. Amy and Tiana( our BYU alumni) made sure she got a pink BYU shirt and I can't wait to see her in it. Devin's sister's also got her a little Redsox outfit. I know what Dev will put her in every time he dresses her until she grows out of it. I took my wedding dress to my mother in law. She is going to make Nola's blessing dress out of it. I am excited to see it at Christmas. I think one of the high lights of my trip home was the following conversation I had with our nephew Connor.

Connor: (looking up at me) Why is your belly so big?
Me : Connor you know why my belly is so big! Why is it so big?
Connor: Cause you ate too much food?!?
A few minutes later still walking down the sidewalk.
He puts his little hand on my belly and says " IT'S GETTING BIGGER!"

Thanks dude you know how to make a big pregnant Aunt feel good about herself.
I miss home already. I love you Simpson's and Searle's. Thanks for all you do for us!

New addition

Devin has been wanting a nice digital camera for a long time. Every chance he gets he is trying to bum his sister's off of her. Well with Tiana's good advice we finally bought one. We got a Cannon Rebel that is also a digital video camera. Perfect for the soon to be new parents. It came Saturday and we just happen to go wake boarding on Saturday. I got some awesome shots of the boys doing their flips and stunts. The water looks so real on the screen it seems like if you touch it you will get wet. Now we just have to figure out how to get the pictures on the computer so I can show you what I am talking about. So pics to hopefully follow soon.

Nola

Before I went home Devin and I went in to have a 3D-4D ultrasound done at my work. Here is one of the pictures we got of our little girl with her hands up by her face sleeping away. It was so fun to see her little face before we officially meet her.

HOME

When I was going through security last night at the airport in Salt Lake the man looked at my I.D. and my boarding pass and said Crystal's going home and I responded yep! I am so lucky to have two places I call home. I had a great weekend visiting with Devin's family and my family. It was a much needed vacation for me. I really needed to spend a few days with them to lift my spirits of being away during my first pregnancy. For the most part it worked, but I was an emotional mess leaving my mom. It's just something a girl needs especially with all the fears and insecurities that come with this new adventure. At the same time I missed Devin and couldn't wait to get home to Portland to see him. I cried so much yesterday I think my body is empty of water, but here I am. Ready to meet my little girl and hold her in my arms. I can't wait!

While I was home my mom and my sisters

and sister in laws threw Nola and I a baby shower.

This is one of my very best friends Emily.

It was a fun night of seeing old friends. This is Kristen and Chanteel.

Kristen is another really good girlfriend on the best friend list. Chanteel and I

worked together for ten years in Salt Lake

Kelli, Misty, and Sarah. (Sister's) Ivies and Payten playing (nieces)

Payten showing us all how to be little ladies.

Ivie after her baptism. Which was the whole reason for the

planned visit.

My aunt Laurel her Daughter Brittany and my cousin Mindy.

Concert Pics

Here are some pictures from last night. I bought these tickets for Devin for his birthday back in March and we have been anticipating it ever since. Devin was a little upset when he found out that I did not go Cheap on the tickets, but when we got there last night and he could see the sweat dripping off Chad's face I rose in wife status. We had a fun time.

Nickelback. They are hard to see. With all the stage lights our camera

had a hard time focusing.

Hinder. The "lips of an angel guys" Love

that song!!!!

Papa Roach

NICKELBACK TONIGHT....HOME IN ONE WEEK!

Laugh if you must

So here is my story. When I was a junior in high school I begged mom and dad for a puppy for Christmas. I didn't want any old puppy. I wanted a Basset Hound. I really didn't think that Santa would really bring me a puppy, but on Christmas morning the door bell rang and with a little red bow around his neck was my Syd. He was so cute with his long body and long floppy ears. He would trip on them when he was a pup and we would just giggle. Sydney had a different disposition then most dogs. Personalities Bassets are famous for. If he didn't want to be bothered he would tell you and most of the time despite his short stumpy legs he could reach things we had no idea he could reach. He just became my little pal and I loved having him around me. Lot's of times in my life he was there for. He would just lick my face when he knew I was sad. Well to get the point. Syd got sick this year and my dad made the decision to put him down. He was suffering and the vets weren't quite sure what was wrong. I saw him for the last time when I was home this spring and I kinda knew it would be the last time I saw him. So I cried and said my goodbyes. Well yesterday as I was leaving work I saw a car pull up and in the front seat was a Basset hound that looked just like my Syd. I don't know if it was the pregnancy hormones or what, but I cried the WHOLE way home. Devin just laughed at me!

This one's for you Mom!

Just as I have been missing out on having mom near me during this first pregnancy, I think she has missed being able to watch me grow. So these pictures are for you mom. Jeri ( Oregon mom) at work made me feel guilty that I had not done this yet. Sorry!

Guess What ?

105 on Monday....110 yesterday..... supposed to be 107 today....We don't live in Phoenix!!!!!
People here don't believe in Air conditioners. I am not dead............. yet!

My needle in a haystack.

So one of my most favorite treats in the world is a Pina colada slupree from 7-11. For years I have spent my summer months tracking down the few stores that have that flavor. I haven't really been craving much with my pregnancy, but my old summer haunts have been in the back of my mind and I have found myself dreaming of a pina colada slupree in my hand. I have been to several stores around my house and have settled for cherry, but I was going crazy. I have tried a few around work that I knew of and just kept striking out. Thursday night I said to Devin "you need to find me pina colada" and he of course just looked at me weird. So yesterday at work I had a spare minute and I googled 7-11 stores to see what was around that I didn't know of. I found one near work that is about five minutes away. So at lunch I went out on my mission once again. I pulled in with optimism, but trying not to get my hopes up. I walked up and sure enough there was my needle in a haystack. Pina colada flavor slupree. I was so excited I bugged Devin at school and he did his best to act surprised for me. I am still reaping the benefits of my search and just had to share it. Thanks for reading my none sense!

What we have been up to!

I know posts without pictures are boring, but I have not been taking pictures. There for I have no pictures to post. Anywho here is what we have been up to. Devin had his high adventure at the beginning of the month with the scouts. He has been planning it for over a year so to have it finally behind him I think was some what of a relief. He didn't get much of a break this last time as he spent the first week of break running errands and getting things ready for high adventure and the second week at high adventure. I think he his already dreaming of his next break where he can mindlessly do nothing. The day he got home from high adventure we went back up the canyon to camp at the same campground for the 4th with some of our friends. We had an entire campground and a lake all to ourselves. We lounged around, fished, and went canoeing on the lake. It was a much needed break for me and I think Devin enjoyed being up there without having to be in charge of 8 teenage boys. He just had his pregnant wife who made him get up in the middle of the night with her to go to the bathroom. Devin has started his eighth quarter and he is treating fellow students in the clinic. This quarter is already proving to be tough for him so we are prepared for a rough few months. We went out boating last Saturday with some friends and I think it was a great stress reliever for Dev to go wake boarding. I enjoy going for the boat ride. I have just been getting big and working hard. Work has been super busy lately and has me coming home extra late and extra tired. We are trying to beat the heat that has swept over Portland this past few weeks. Devin has cooling the house down to a science. With no air conditioning we have to deal with what we have, but he does a good job of keeping us cool. Everything is going well with the pregnancy nothing new to report just getting further along and closer to being parents. That's my update for now.

The Name Nola

Many of you have been asking me how we came up with the name Nola. I wouldn't blog about such things, but sense of few of you live far away and only read this as communication between us I will answer your question. We are naming our daughter after Devin's dad. His name is Nolan. Her middle name Jean is my middle name. Nola is due on my dad's birthday. So even if she comes early, which most likely she will if I have anything to say about it, she will share a birthday month with my dad. She will have a little part of both her grandpa's. My dad's name is Rex and that is a little hard to make feminine. He was thinking Rexanna, but I vi toed that right away. Of course he was kidding. So that is where we got the name Nola Jean.

BABY NOLA

We had our anatomical survey ultrasound today. Our little girl is healthy and strong and growing like a weed. She has all her fingers and toes and her organs are all functioning. It's still so surreal to me that I am a mother. I had to fight back the tears today during the ultrasound. I am so grateful for her already. Here are pictures of our little girl.

She was sleeping with her mouth open.
A picture of one of her hands. She kept putting it up in
front of her face. She didn't like that we were interrupting her nap.

My co-worker has a sense of humor and thought her

chiropractor daddy would like a shot of her spinal column.

Her little piggies I just can't wait to kiss.

Ok Ok enough baby...What have we been up to?

Devin is on break this week and next. He finished his seventh quarter of school last week and I cannot believe how fast time is going bye. He has been busy this past few weeks getting ready for high adventure with the scouts on top of preparing for finals. He will be gone most of next week. I am not looking forward to it necessarily, but I enjoy having time to myself and the house to myself. Lot's of projects I want to work on. I have just been working, working and working. We are going to go camping next weekend for the fourth so that will be relaxing and I am looking forward to that. I have been feeling good for the most part. Just getting a big belly. I have my good days and bad, but the bad are few and far between right now. We haven't really been able to enjoy much of the summer yet, but I hope we get a few adventures in before the end.

IT'S A......

We have had several ultrasounds already, but we wanted to wait until I was further along before we went ahead and announced what we are having. IT'S A GIRL ! Can't wait to meet our little Nola Jean.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEVIN!

Baby Update

I have neglected some requests from friends and family back to home to tell them how I am doing with my pregnancy so far. So I thought I would blog a little update. I am now 15 weeks and grateful to be over the nausea stage. Everyone at work joked that it would help me be more sympathetic with my patients, but it did the opposite. I had no patience to listen to them whine about not going to work cause they did not feel good. I wanted to reach through the phone and strangle them. I am grateful to be over the want to murder people as well. I am still feeling very tired although I can feel my energy slowly coming back. I know however that is only a window time and that when I am huge I will be tired and miserable again. So we will try to enjoy this time while it lasts. I am doing well and so far everything is fine. Thanks for caring everyone and sorry I have ignored so many of you for so long. Love you and miss you all.

Lot's to blog about!

Claying around

It had been a while so a few weeks ago I pulled my clay out and made a few things. My patriotic bug
Be Bug

Newport

We went to Newport for Memorial day to the aquarium.

Devin and I in the shark tunnel

A shark swimming right above us.

These we got to touch and it was cool. You can see the star fish in different colors. The little green fish that look like a plant were sticky.

This is a Spider crab and apparently it is the biggest crab in the world. This picture does not do it justice. It was huge!

These we got to touch as well. There are little sting rays and sharks. Pretty cool

Devin had to take this picture because only in Oregon do you go fully dressed to the beach.

Redsox Game in Seattle

We went to see the Redsox play in Seattle two weeks ago and had a great time. We are thinking we shouldn't go see them anymore cause the three times we have gone to see them play they have lost. Oh well.

Our little Simpson Miracle

After what has seemed like an eternity Devin and I are ready to announce that we are expecting a baby in November. I found out the day after my birthday. Talk about a great birthday present. We were so surprised because just a month before my Doctors had told me most likely I would not be able to get pregnant on my own. Well I proved em wrong. We are so blessed! The thing that is funny is that I felt symptoms but didn't think of taking a test. I was convinced that I wasn't because of what the docs had said. So I was over 6 weeks before I found out. Some OB/GYN Medical Assistant I am. The whole time we were home in Utah and Wyoming I had no energy, poor Devin could do nothing right, I slept and slept, and on the drive home I made Devin pull over numerous times cause I was sure I was going to throw up. I know I know how did I not know? It's my job to know! When Doctors paint a dismal picture you just don't go there in your head. Needless to say we are more then excited. This truly is our little miracle.

MOM

Last year I took a minute to share some thoughts on my blog about the dad's in my life. I thought of the idea after mother's day and now have the chance to honor the mother's in my life. Mom Searle was really sick when I was little and the Searle house was not without it's challenges. Her courage and faith in her heavenly father helped her through the darkest time in her life and I dare say mine. Dad was often away with his military job on Sundays and mom always made sure we were in church. She would march her six kids into the chapel and often got comments like "Kandi why don't you just stay home without Rex here to help you?" She was a faithful daughter of god and knew what she needed to do to raise her children and secure their testimonies. Mom sacrificed so much for her family. I know there are many things I am not aware of that she went without so the boys and James could play sports and Kelli and I could dance. She was always there to support us at these events. I knew I could always find her face in the crowd at my Dance competitions. I knew I could always count on my mom to help me have the best book report or project in the class. She is so talented and always went above and beyond and encourage us to do the same. I learned so many things from her. She continues to be there for her children even in there adult hood. Many nights she held her oldest daughter in her arms and rocked me as I cried through my challenges as a young single adult. She prays for us every day. I know cause I have felt her prayers for me on so many different occassions. I love to see her now as a grandma comforting, teaching and helping her grandchildren. It brings sweet memories to my mind. Mom you are such an amazing example to me. Thanks for always listening to me , holding me, and loving me. I love you with every ounce of my heart! Mom Simpson is the world's best mother in law. In the few short years I have had the privilege of having this sweet women in my life I have learned a great deal from her.She is slowly teaching this city girl how to survive in the country and how to be a country wife. We have crafted together, canned together, cooked together, hauled hay together and worked side by side together. She raised an amazing son that I now call my husband and I will be eternally grateful for her. She also raised six children whom are also still faithful in the gospel. Kaylene I know you know how much you mean to me. At least I hope you do. I try to remember to tell you. I love you and I appreciate all you do for Devin and I. What a blessing our grandmother's are to us. I love learning from you. What wisdom you have to share with me. Thanks you for all you do for us. I want to let all my sisters in laws know how much there example has blessed my life. I see the way you teach, comfort and bless the lives of the munchkins you are now raising and it touches my heart. Sarah I only single you out because you have been like a big sister to me and I love you so much. You being a bishops wife with three young children truely there is no better example to me and my sister's of true devotion to Heavenly Father. I think alot of my tears the day Trav was set apart were for you. I am grateful for the mom's in my life and I love you all. Today I honor you. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

Three years

Three years ago today Devin and I were married. It honestly doesn't feel like it has been three years. Crazy. I was thinking today that we spent the first year and a half of our marriage in Salt lake and now we have been in Portland for a year and a half. Time flies.

PASSED

The wait is over! Devin passed all his boards. The section of testing he said he felt the worst about so happens was his best score. Crazy how that happens huh! Way to go Devin. I love you lot's.

Lucky You

So we had something really exciting happen to us over the weekend. Saturday Devin and I headed to the mall to get him some more dress clothes for school. After hitting the mall I needed to take something back to Nordstrom Rack. While we were there Devin found our personal needle in a hay stack. You may think I am a total dork for blogging about this, but I seriously have been hunting for this for three years of our marriage.We had almost given up hope and had just determined that they were not being made anymore. I was standing in line to return my purchase and Devin walk up to me with a khaki pair of Lucky pants. I almost fainted. He has been wanting a new pair since I have known him.His other pair really need to be thrown away, but my sweet love has not been able to part with them without finding a replacement. Every time we go into a store, no matter where we are, that sells Lucky's he looks for his pants and we have had no luck... until Saturday. The funny part is he wore them all day on Saturday and just kept saying over and over I have forgotten how comfortable these pants are....Three minutes later "these pants are so comfortable".....Two minutes later " why did I only get one pair?". So we are headed back as soon as possible to get one more pair.

Opening day

I love this time of year. I love the weather turning warmer. I love all the flowers and trees that are starting to blossom. I love the Easter season as we contemplate change and life over death. I love that I am able to celebrate my birthday this month, but the best thing about this time of year is...........
BASEBALL STARTS TODAY! Opening day is today. I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

They say it's your birthday!

Thank you for all the phone calls, gifts(sarah..... I love my mickey bowl and measuring cups almost to much to use) cards, text message's and singing happy birthday's. I love you all so much and I am very grateful for the sweet angels in my life.

No place like home

Devin and I just got home last night from a week long trip home. We had a good time visitng with family and friends however, we are so happy to be sleeping in our bed again. There is no place like home.

Half way through school how nice is that. So for being half way I guess a gift is needed!! Among the purchuses was a NO FEAR Helment (preperation for the graduation present), tickets to hear NICKELBACK in concert in August, and tickets to watch RED SOX play the Mariners in Seattle.

Now just to clarify things, my wife only got the Nickelback tickets, the rest I bought on my own, to all you thinking about doing something like this here is some words of advice.
1- Make sure you only let you wife know a day before so she doesn't have time to think it over
2- Make sure your wife has a great job, which mine does
3- Make sure to purchase online, that way you can't return what you buy very easily
4- Convience your wife it is a must need, to make you happy, (especially around the time you take Boards or around Finals time. Tell them it will help relieve the stress from the all the tests.
5- Make sure you have a great wife.

Thanks Crystal
p.s. I have a great wife!!

AAAAHHHHH

Well Devin still has a weeks worth of finals to take, but I cannot describe the relief our house feels now that boards are over.(Chiro wives you know what I am talking about) As soon as he is done this Friday HOME HERE WE COME! I cannot wait to see everyone. Even though I got to see some of you in January I am still excited to see you. Our lives have been very hectic and we are both so excited to see our families and have some down time. One of my co-worker's is on maternity leave so I have picked up extra hours which has not given me the time to run errands, clean my house, do laundry and take care of the other full time job I have of being a wife. Devin has been so busy with studying that I know he is looking forward to this break with great anticipation. So I breath a sigh of relief that we are almost there and that we are half way done with school! YIPPEEE

Boards UGH

Devin has two solid weeks of studying and test taking approaching. He has his first round of boards all day this Saturday and Sunday. I keep looking at him and thinking " I am so glad it's not me". I have done my part in helping him. The fridge has Pepsi in it and I am going to do my best to stay away from him. On the other hand I cannot believe he is already half way done wtih school. Time flies. GOOD LUCK HONEY!