Some more Pics

North Head Light house in Washington

Nola and Devin taking cover by the light house.
I learned that North Head is one of the windiest places in the U.S
and that day we were shown no mercy.

My Sister being a dork and actually paying a quarter to look at the gorge.

This is the view James paid a quarter to see. I will give it to you for free.

Just me using my camera to capture some of the
beauty of Oregon that is literally 10 minutes from our apartment.

Fun Pics of Nola

This is usually how I find Nola before I go to bed at night. I am constantly getting up to recover her. I thought this night was particularly funny because one leg was in and the other was out.

I had to get Nola some little glasses for the five days a year Portland get's sun. How does she look?.....I am actually hoping we can frequent the pool this summer since I am no longer obligated to the nine to five.

Taking a Stab at Photography.

Some of Oregon through my eyes.

Five Months

She now weighs in at 15 pounds 15 ounces and is 25 inches long.

This one's for You Aunts Amy and Tiana

The first day of March Madness we were supporting the cougs. Notice how I said first day. Well they made it to the second round this year so YAY!

What have we been up to?

Well the time has come for me to post new pics of Nola, but I am a bad mom and haven't really taken any lately. So I need to get that done and post some. Devin is in the middle of his second to last break from school. He is still going into the clinic to work for a half day every day, but it is still nice to spend some time with him. Nola will be five months old this Friday and I cannot believe how fast time has gone bye. Devin has technically two quarters of school left but only one where he has to sit in classes. His last quarter he can go work under a chiropractor which he will most likely do. We will be leaving Oregon at the end of August for sure. Maybe earlier. Depending on where we end up for his 12 quarter. He takes his last set of boards in May and then graduates in June. I am shaking my head typing this cause I cannot believe it. I am still pinching myself. I have finally settled into being a stay at home mom. It was an adjustment for me since I have worked my whole adult life, but I am enjoying it. I am finding new hobbies and I love spending time with Nola. She is starting to show her little personality and often has me laughing or getting mad at her stubbornness. ( she gets that from her father of coarse!) I have to say that cause my mother would say she gets it from me. :) Whatever the case the little bugger is hard to lay down for naps 70% of the time. We had a quick nice visit with Devin's brother Darnell this weekend and will be seeing him for several more weekends in the coming months as he and Devin are attending a conference together. My parents and two sisters are coming up this weekend and we are excited to have them here. Last Friday Devin had a little accident with a dirt bike and was pretty sore all weekend, but he didn't break anything and he lived to tell to about it. We have been enjoying the beautiful weather Portland has given us these past few weeks. I am not anxious to move back to snow and ice. I will post some pictures of our little bug soon! We hope all of you are well.

Can't sleep!

It's late and I can't sleep. Too much on my mind. Devin and Nola are snoring, but my mind is racing with thoughts about the person I want to be and the person I have become. I think it's a cross road many of us come to, at least I hope I am not alone. I have a couple of huge stumbling blocks I need to get over. I desire to change, but desire just doesn't seem like enough anymore. I need to have conviction that I can change. Even faith can only get me so far. I must do my part. I must let the cunning one know he can't beat me. My weaknesses will be my strengths!! I can overcome and I will. Today March 20, 2010 is my pledge date. I will be better. I will change my bad habits. I will become the person I have always wanted to be. Thanks blogging world. I needed to do that. I feel sleepy now.

DEVIN ACTS LIKE IT'S CHRISTMAS THIS TIME OF YEAR

December 24, 2009

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is to do well on my bracket next year!

Love,
Devin

Family Resemblance

When I was home we were looking through pictures of my Niece Ivie when she was a baby and I couldn't help but notice the resemblance between Nola and her. The other day I found this picture of my niece Claire on her blessing day and I felt like I was looking at Nola.

Weird Chiropractors

So this conversation I had with a friend the other night is still making me smile. We were discussing scenario's were people ask you what your husband is studying. It goes as follows

Person: So what is your husband studying in school?
Chiro Wife: He is studying to be a Chiropractor.
Person: OOOHHHH?! :O
Chiro Wife: (Thinking in her head) Do you think Chiropractors are weird............? Cause mine isn't going to be weird...............but if I say that is this person weird and like weird chiropractors?

Dang those weirdos that have given them all a bad rep.

Grandma

A week ago Friday Devin and I were out running some much needed errands when I received a phone call from my brother that my dear sweet grandma had passed away. Due to many circumstances after my grandpa died my grandma came to live with my parents 11 years ago. She has been a permanent fixture in my parent's home. This past week I reflected on what a blessing it was to my siblings and I to have such a close relationship with her. Because she lived with mom and dad we saw her all the time so consequently we knew her. We knew her joys, her sorrows, dislikes, likes and frustration because she told them to us. Even heaven forbid when we didn't want to hear them. I remember so many nights sitting on grandma's bed getting in some girl talk before the night got late. My nieces and Nephews also knew grandma but they knew her as grandma great. They always went in to sit on her lap and have their own visit . When grandma was gone on a trip or for a visit somewhere else they noticed. They feel her missing presence now. All though to young maybe to understand what was going on they mourned in their own way this past week which left me sobbing a few times. As a result of being so close to grandma the Searle family received lot's of card, letters, and flowers with sympathy. Many people approached my siblings and I and gave their condolence's and told us how much grandma appreciated all we did for her and how much she spoke of us and loved us. It meant so much to us. In our family these times bring about alot of laughter as we reflect on memories of the passed. I was so grateful to go home and be with my family and laugh til we cried. I loved my grandma but we know that FAMILIES ARE FOREVER. We got the message grandma and the Searle kids won't let you down. We love you!

This is grandma with Payten

Pinning Ceremony

Last night the school had a pinning ceremony for the interns who are graduating from being a junior intern to a Senior intern. Devin had mixed emotions about going because of some of the ways the administration has been handling things at the school. Long story short he decided to go. He only has two and half quarters left which will be roughly 6 months. I am so proud of Devin and all his hard work. I pinch myself all the time because I cannot believe he is almost done with school. I am also proud of him for sticking up for something bigger then himself and then putting aside his convictions when asked to do so. Congratulations Dev, Nola and I love you Lot's.

Soon to be Dr. Devin J Simpson

This is his" Ok Honey I am done with Pictures" face





I didn't have the best spot for pictures but this is Devin shaking Pres. Brimhall hand.

3 months

So I vowed I would not be one of those mom's who only posted about her kids all the time.

Mostly because I know there are a few of you who do care to still hear and see how Dev and I are doing, but here are some updated pics of Nola. She is almost 14 weeks old now and I can't believe how fast time has already gone bye.

Nola

Devin's sister Tiana took these pictures for us of Nola when we were home for Christmas. I am not one to brag, but she really is amazing you should check her out at www.tsimpsonphotography.blogspot.com or her website at www.tianasimpson.com

Thanks again T. We love you lot's!

Freezing Time

I was sitting in Relief Society on Sunday and I had an overwhelming desire to just freeze time and the scene and remember it in my heart. Since Stopping time is not something I can do I decided to write it down so I can remember it years from now. My neighbor and Friend Heather had her little boy Jackson with her in Relief Society last Sunday. Heather leaned over the row and hinted that she would like to hold Nola. So as she was holding Nola Jackson was entertaining himself by helping his mom entertain Nola when he turned around and gave me his signature thumbs up with his big Jackson grin on his face. It made me smile, but the overwhelming desire to stop or slow down time had me fighting back some tears that started to make their way out. I remember thinking when moving away from Utah that someday it would be hard to move away from Oregon. Well it will be and it won't be, but I will miss the friendships we have made here so much. Thanks Jackson for being such a sweet little boy!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

We had such a nice Christmas vacation. I always look forward to being home and I am sad when it's over. Santa spoiled our little family and we got everything we wanted and needed. Nola survived the cousins kisses and noise, Aunts and uncles holding her all day and Grandma's and grandpa's spoiling her rotten. My niece Payton calls her "Baby Cola". Tiana took some pictures of her while we were home and I can't wait to see them. We blessed Nola in Star Valley and it was a perfect day. Thanks again to everyone for making it special and to my family who drove up from Utah to be there to support us. It was so special to see all our brothers and our dads bless my little girl. ( PICS TO COME) We are glad to be back in our own beds and to have Nola back on a schedule..... Well Sorta! Devin has just started his 10th quarter of school. I can't believe we only have about nine months left here in Oregon. Where does time go? We are excited to be closer to family again, but with that we leave friends and memories behind so we will not wish this nine months away to fast!

My favorite Picture taken while were home. Quinn giving Nola a kiss. SO SWEET!

Fun in the Snow in Star Valley

Connor doing what the Simpson Blood in him tells him to do. PUSH SNOW!

Taryn, Connor, Devin and McKenna going for a sled ride around grandpa's place.

Yep your are not seeing things that is my baby girl on that sled with her daddy. Devin was so excited to take her for her first ride I just couldn't say no.

And what do you do after playing in the snow all day? Lay in front of the fire place of course.

NOLA

Tender Mercies

I know the heavens didn't cover Portland in ice just for little ole me, however the results canceled church today and this new mom really needed to catch up on her sleep.

Lack of Pictures

So a few of you have given me crap for not posting pictures of Nola, but truth be told I haven't wanted to because the little girl won't cooperate. Even in the womb she proved difficult to take pictures of. She always has her hands by her face or she is asleep or she is screaming her head off. Anywho here she is.

This is dad thinking he is funny.
Ward Christmas party. She is crying.

Screaming while Santa is holding her.

There is our baby.

Giving Thanks

It's not Thanksgiving to me without reflecting on the things that I am grateful for. I am grateful for so many things. Every year the list is pretty generic, family, friends etc. However, this year I hope to be more specific. I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who finally allowed me to know what is feels like to create and love something unconditionally. I am grateful for Devin and his willingness to get up with Nola so I can rest just 20 minutes longer and for giving me such a beautiful baby girl. I am grateful to my Mom who has spent the last few weeks here with Nola and I. I am grateful to Dad who let her come up and is now here helping us. I am grateful to Kelli and Jami who are having Marie Calendars for Thanksgiving so Mom and Dad could be up here with me. I love you guys. I am grateful to Mom Simpson who has been busy sewing blankets, a car seat cover, and Nola's blessing dress ( it's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen). I am grateful to my Nurse Cyndi for all her help in the hospital. She was with me the whole night while I was laboring with Nola. She even stayed after her shift ended to see Nola be born and to stay with me. I am sure she will forget me, but I won't forget her. I am grateful to Carly, Bethany, Ericka, Hayley, Sis and Bro. Stone, Emali and Heather for bringing us dinners. I am grateful to all of you who have sent your congratulations and love over these last few weeks. We appreciate you all so much. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!