Easter 2011

Nola's First Ever Pony!

My little girl is getting so big.

Just some projects

I have been craving spring so much that I have consumed myself with
several projects over the last few weeks. Here they are.
My egg wreath.

Some Easter blocks.

All the Simpson girls( who live close) got together during Priesthood meeting

last weekend and made these jewelry wracks.

Our two oldest nieces on the Simpson side were baptized last Saturday night so I made them a Gordon B. Hinckley "B's" box. I started this tradition with Ivie.

I have been sewing as well. I made three towels, but had to send one
off to Utah and forgot to take a picture.

I bought this for Nola for Easter! (BEFORE)

And turned it into this! (AFTER) It looks so cute on, but those
pictures will be taken on Easter Sunday.
The flowers on her shoes are on clips so I can take them off .

My Christmas present.

This is what Devin made me for Christmas. I realize Christmas was three months ago, but I haven't thought to post pictures. I don't get to use it often because I need a big bag for my munchkin, but when I do use it I get compliments every where I go.

Just an Update

Well an update of the Simpson clan is long over due. We are alive and well. We are still fighting through snow and cold weather. I guess we are experiencing spring weather for Wyoming. 30 degrees is better than 9 any day. The snow is melting slowly but surely. I think my mind is just adjusting still from the almost 60 degrees with no snow we experienced visiting my parents in Utah these past two weekends. It has given me a little spring fever.
Clinic is still going well for Devin. We get compliments all the time passed our way about those Simpson boys. It's nice that Devin is able to contribute to a practice Darnell has worked so hard to make great and to see the two of them make it awesome. Our house process is taking as long as expected, but we are confident we will be moving forward soon.
Baby Myla is growing and doing well. Which means I am growing. I feel better than I did with Nola at this point which is nice, but I still have half way to go. Nola is such a jabber box and I am by no means exaggerating. She is learning fast so many words and is confident in what she is saying even if I still don't understand. She acts as though it's my problem that I am not sure what she wants. She is getting into EVERYTHING which is keeping me busy and very tired. Her favorite thing to play with right now is the computer and the computer mouse. Devin's secretary at the clinic let her sit on her lap the other day and play with the office computer and I had to drag Nola away kicking and screaming. She is becoming more of daddy's girl which is good and bad. Tuesdays are long days for us. Devin works until six and usually doesn't' get home until 6:30 and then he eats and leaves for Scouts (mutual). Last Tuesday she stood by the door and cried "daddy....daddy....daddy". Just about broke my heart. She is getting so big I often find myself wondering out loud where did my baby go?
Anyways we are still doing good and we are excited for this year with all the news things that will be coming our way. I can't wait!

Stuck inside

I found Nola watching t.v like this with her little Dog she named "Dat"Thanks Penny, Eric and kids she really loves this little thing.

Cheese grinning for the camera.

Syrup face.

IT"S A.....................

GIRL ! Most likely name her Myla Ann

Mommy and me

Oh wow alot going on!

So I have been bad about keeping my blog updated. I have a sleeping baby so I will take a quick minute to do this instead of some other pending thing. The month of January was long here in Wyoming. ( At least for me)Nola got sick New Years weekend and has been up and down....but mostly down ever since. Then about a week and a half ago Devin came down with a fever and really bad cold. He has since started feeling better but Nola was still coughing with a bad runny nose. Now before anyone starts to judge little ole me she happened to cut two teeth this month so I just thought the runny nose was maybe part of that and her not feeling well. Well after a month of fighting I gave in to my mom intuition and took her to the Doctor just knowing he would say "paranoid mom she is fine go home". I really only took her out of frustration . I had done the cough meds, the Tylenol, the humidifier, the rub on the chest and still no baby back to normal. Well he listened to her chest and said " she has Bronchiolitis and she needs to be on antibiotics. If that doesn't work a chest x-ray and blood work will be the next step." So here we go. She has finished her meds and is acting a lot more like my Nola girl, but we will see what the next few days show.
Mean while Devin is better and is all over the state this month helping the high school wrestler's at all the tournaments. The practice is still going so well and it is fun to see him in action. A friend of mine said just the other night " I called my mom cause I was having trouble walking and she said call those Simpson boys I hear they are pretty good." It made me smile. I am still beaming with pride for him and all the hard work on his part it took to get here. We also found out last month that home ownership is going to happen a lot faster then we thought. We are starting paper work this month and have already scouted a few places we want to look at in person. We are so excited! I sound childish but I lay in bed and dream about what having my own place will be like.
Everything is going well so far with me and baby. We have our anatomical survey on the 15th and I am so excited to see the growth and of coarse to found out the sex of our baby. If it's a girl obviously we are set, but if it's a boy we have a little shopping to do. We are still out to lunch on names so we are waiting until we only have to come up with one. We are nerds, but we can't agree so far!
Well that does it. Baby awake and crying. We hope you are staying warm and well.

Christmas 2010

The tree Christmas morning

Nola opening her gifts

The stocking goods

Sporting the mickey mouse slippers Santa brought. In the winter you need something on your feet to keep your socks from constantly getting wet.

We had a great Christmas. We spent the day with the Simpson's and spent New Year's with my Family. I think Dev got more than Nola and I put together. He kinda spoiled himself this year. Devin made a purse out of Utah license plates for me. I know kinda hard to picture . It's not finished which is why it will be pictured at a later date, but I love it!

My pregnancy is going well so far. I see the Doc again in a week. I am feeling better and I have energy.....at least for now!

Devin and Darnell's clinic is doing well. The clinic had it's third busiest month since it opened last month. Usually in December you see things go down. We feel so blessed and know it's from our Heavenly Father who is pouring these blessings onto us. Not so much the Doctors handsome face's. Devin is enjoying work and I am so happy he enjoys going to work every day.

I on the other hand am so busy with my little sassa frass. She makes me laugh out loud at least once a day. She is coming into her own. She loves her little cousin that is 6 months younger then her and I am afraid if I am not careful she may love our little one coming to death once it arrives. She has the fake cry down pretty well. It's Oscar worthy trust me. She has lot's of words to her vocabulary which is way fun for me to hear her talk. Every animal is a doggie. We went at saw Elk today at the feed ground and she just kept saying doggie, doggie.

We are still at Devin's parents and things are looking like we may get into a house sooner then we thought. Don't worry it's still about 6 months to a year away, but that was better then the 1 to 2 years we were thinking. Hopefully we will find something to at least to rent before the new baby comes. I couldn't do that to my gracious in laws.

Anyways we are good and had a great holiday season. We hope you all did as well.

Wyoming fun

What do you do in Wyoming on a Saturday when all the cousins are over? You have grandpa hook up the sleds and pull you around.

New Baby

Yep we are expecting our number 2. I found out the end of November. We are seeing a Doctor in Jackson and we had our first appointment last Thursday. We got to see our little one moving about now while he/she has all that room. It was tear jerking for me because as as sick I as am it just doesn't seem real until I see that heart beat and get assurance that all is OK at least for now. The doctor asked if this was a surprise and all I could say was yes and no. It took us so long to get Nola girl here that we didn't really prevent but am I ready for two babies under the age of two? I guess we will find out. Anyways we really are thrilled and can't wait. It looks like we can expect our little one in July.

AAHHHHHH!!!!

I swore I never would be one of those parents who only posted pictures of their kids every post and here I am doing it! Here is to a new family Picture.

Happy 1st Nola

Picture time

Nola being done with picture time

Cake time

Bath time
We had a great time celebrating Nola's birthday down in Utah with my family last Saturday. This Saturday it's birthday number 2 with the Simpson's.

Has it really been 1 Year

Happy birthday to my baby girl!

Giving Thanks

This is the time of year when one should sit back and be grateful. Thanksgiving after all is about being grateful for the things that we have. It's a god like quality to express gratitude. He wants us to be grateful for the things that he has blessed us with. Most often even through our darkest hours we can look back and remember how he shows himself unto us. It could have been through a friend or a family member calling you or stopping by. It could be through feelings and thoughts he places in our hearts to let us know he is aware of us. I want to be like him so I will express gratitude for the many blessings he has blessed into my life. I am first grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later day Saints. I know what my ancestors went through to be apart of a religion that they knew was true. My great great grandmother left her families fortune and was turned out of her home to join the saints for something greater then herself. Because of numerous courageous family members I have the blessing of the gospel in my life. I am grateful to a husband who is not afraid to speak of his weaknesses and ask for my forgiveness. He is my strength even when he clinging to mine. I am grateful that Devin is willing to work two jobs right now so that we can re build our savings to buy a home. I am grateful that we are done with school and that Devin has started to do what he set out so many years ago to do. I am grateful for Nola who let's me glimpse into heaven through her eyes. She is a miracle to us after we tried unsuccessfully for so long to begin our family. She keeps me laughing when some moments all I want to do is cry. She is healthy, strong and smart. I am grateful for those things. I am grateful to be her mother. I am grateful she gives me a reason every day to not think about just myself. I am grateful for our families. Our parents who raised us both with a knowledge of God and his goodness. Thank you Mom and Dad Simpson for opening your home to us until we figure things out. Thank you Nolan for letting Nola rip your "Ducks Unlimited magazine" just so I can veg on the couch for five minutes. We love you both so much. Thank you Mom and Dad Searle for being there for us. I know you as well would have gladly opened your home to us if needed and we are so lucky to have such a great set of parents to keep us grounded but to also lift us up. I am grateful to Darnell who has so graciously invited us to be a part of so much of his hard work. You are a great brother and we feel your love and concern for not only the business but our family as well. I am thankful for the sweet neighbor girl who made Nola a cupcake and brought it by for her birthday the other day. What a sweet act of service. Nola will not remember your sweet thoughtfulness but her mother will never forget. My Heavenly Father does reveal himself to me through so many of you. Thank you for being you. I love you all. Happy Thanksgiving!

Snow Day

Star Valley got a little snow last week. It wasn't much but it was perfect snow man snow. This Utah mom couldn't help but drag Nola out and make her first Snow man. The really cool part is that Grandpa Simpson has the perfect snow man accessories all over his yard. Including coal for his face. Isn't he cute!

Halloween

Ready, Ready, Ready to Run.....

Devin has finally started working. He took his state test last week and got his license number on Friday. It has been so long coming it doesn't feel real. I was doing laundry the other day putting away all of Devin's old grubby work clothes thinking Hum now it's back to dress clothes and ironing. Oh well it's worth it. It's nice to have him working. Nola and I enjoyed a nice week long visit to Utah last week with my family. I still love that I am so close again. Mom might not think 3 hours is so close since her other grand kids are 3 minutes away but we keep reminding her 3 hours is better than 12. Nola has reached a few mile stones since I wrote a couple weeks ago. She is climbing stairs( which she just figured out on her own) all by herself to my dismay. She has decided that baby food is not her thing anymore and loves to eat cheese. She has figured out a lot of things watching her older cousins do them. She can walk pretty well actually but she is still a little in secure about it and prefers to crawl the long distances. She is getting big and I must admit my baby girl is looking more and more like a little girl. Sniffle, sniffle, TEAR......She keeps me running for sure. We are excited to celebrate her first Halloween and cannot wait to see her in her costume I am putting some finishing touches on. Don't worry I didn't make it. I am not that talented. At least not yet. I bought it I am just adding to it. It has been snowing here and today I took Nola out to play and we built a snowman. I took some pictures but I am too tired to download right now so I will post pics of her and our snowman later. That's our update for now.

How we are spending our days.

We have been in Wyoming for over a month now and we are still not sure what our immediate future holds. Devin has submitted his application to get a license and we are still waiting to hear back from the state on where and when he can take his state licensing test. This process seems to be dragging on, as we were hoping to be practicing by now. However, we are finding many ways to spend our time. Devin has been able to help his dad out with the store at his busiest time of year. He is also earning some money helping Darnell lay carpet. He also as been the "go fer" helping his brother, cousin, and dad get their elks off the mountain. Nola and I have been a bit more lazy. We play outside, have snack time and play with grandma while the boys are getting our meat. I am heading home next week to see my family in Utah. It is still so wonderful to be able to go down when I want. Nola is walking.............Well when she wants to. She can do it, but she forgets sometimes and just crawls. She cracks us all up. If she just knew how much freedom is awaiting her when she can go where she wants. I however am not sure if I am ready to chase her even more than I already do. She loves pulling out all grandpa's newspapers and throwing them about. She has also discovered the cupboards. She especially enjoys the one the garbage is in. I spent most of September canning and cutting. We have mostly enjoyed just being home. I found myself a little home sick for Oregon last night. We miss so many of you, but love having our family all so close. I hope I never take it for granted.