{enjoying the sun}

We were able to enjoy a couple of days of sun and warmer weather. Jace loves to be outside. I'm excited for the summertime when we can spend our days soaking up the sun.

{tulip festival}

While Jared and his Dad went golfing Saturday afternoon, Chris, Carrie, Jace and I went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.

{graduation}

Just some pictures from graduation. We had a great time with everyone that came to support Jared and Alexis. Thursday we enjoyed listening to Elder Bednar speak at the University commencement and Friday was the college convocations. Jace was very excited when he saw his Daddy walking across the stage and tried to blow him some kisses from his seat. In between the college convocations we enjoyed a delicious graduation lunch at Tucano's (a Brazillian grill and Jared's favorite). I think everyone enjoyed the food there and definitely ate way too much. Saturday morning we had a brunch at the house with Jared's family to celebrate his graduation. We are proud of Jared and his accomplishments and all of his hard work and are excited to start a new phase in our life.

{Congrats to the Grads}

Just wanted to send a shout out to the grads of Brigham Young University. Jared graduated with a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering (emphasis in Water Resources) and Alexis graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English. Thanks to all those who came out and supported them.

{Sweet Home Alabama}

A slide show of all the fun that we had in Alabama!

{it's always nice to come home}

We are back from our trip to Alabama. We had a fabulous time with Jared's family. We wore pretty much everyone out (including ourselves). After a long flight it was nice to be home again. Jace was a great flier and loved almost every minute of it. Of course, he didn't sleep at all on any of the flights but he was good so we can't complain.

Jace had a lot of firsts in Alabama: his first scrapped knee, his first trip to the zoo, his first time flying a kite and his first time bowling.

Other things we did:
*Tae and Kenshi's baby shower
*Jason's birthday party
*Kenshi's baby blessing
*Met Jon's fiance Aubrey
*Jared was able to attend his Grandpa Folsom's funeral
*Went to Fort Toulouse (from the French-Indian war)
*Ate at Jared's high school football coaches restaurant, Cactus Grill
*Went to breakfast with Katie and Cory
*Enjoyed beautiful Alabama spring weather

Here are a couple of pictures from the flight:

{Heading South}

Jace and I are heading south today where it better be warm and sunny. Jared has been in Florida all week doing training for work and we are meeting him tonight for a visit to Alabama! It has been lonely without him here and it has reinforced how much I need him. He is such a great help. Jace has been missing him also and always looks for Daddy around 5:00.

Last night while packing I cut my hand open just below the thumb. It looks pretty bad and I probably needed stitches (which by the way is a first) but it was 11:00 at night and I didn't want to go to the emergency room. So I used the skills that I learned from watching "Lost" and cleaned and patched up my wound. The only problem is that it hurts whenever I put pressure on my hand including trying to lift Jace. I did decide though that I can tolerate pain much better then I can tolerate morning sickness (not that I am pregnant but I can still remember the awfulness of it).

{Dinosaur Museum}

We went to the Dinosaur Museum, with Shaunte & Carter, this morning because it was sooo cold outside (I wanted to go to the Tulip Festival in the Gardens). Jace really does have a good time there and likes to look at all the dinosaurs.

I was so excited to see this pretty yellow flower last week because it meant that there is hope for spring, but I guess mother nature had other ideas as it was buried in snow this morning.

{A Good Week}

Last week was a good week because....

*My mom and little brother Jacob came to visit for 3 days. We did lots of fun stuff like shopped for mission stuff, played Rock Band (Jacob is quite the rock-star), visited the Dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point, went swimming, visited and ate good food. Thanks for coming guys!

*Attending the BYU football alumni BBQ. It is always fun to be part of BYU football and see old friends and coaches.

*We sold Jared's pressure washer! KSL.com rocks!

*General Conference - so many great talks and the needed motivation to be better.

*Going to the Sunday morning conference session and Music and the Spoken Word. We love going to Temple Square and the conference center and the spirit that is there. Thanks Mom & Dad McLaughlin for the tickets and thanks Matt & Shaunte for watching Jace for us.

*I am actually in one of the pictures that was taken with my camera! One of the nice volunteers at the conference center took this for us.









*Hanging out with our great friends, roasting marshmellows and playing games.

The only downside to the week: UCLA and UNC lost in the final four which means my bracket just lost miserably. I was so close to winning.

{Mmmm....smores!}

After the priesthood session on Saturday night we headed out back to the "cabin" to make smores with Matt, Shaunte & Carter. Jace liked putting the marshmellows on the roasting stick, throwing them into the fire and of course, eating them. It was a lot of fun and now I can't wait to go camping.

{BYU Football}

Friday we went to a BYU football practice and then to the alumni BBQ. We got to eat great food, see old friends and have a great time. Jared got a new bag and a t-shirt for being an alumni (it never ends). Jace got to run around on the field and play with his football and friend Carter. I took a bunch of pictures and am having a hard time deciding which to post so it is going to be a lot, but who doesn't love pictures!


Watching practice


Jace and Carter


Jace and Coach Tidwell


On the field


Jared, Mitch Payne, Matt Payne


Worn out from jumping


Doing what he does best - eating!


Jared & Jace and Matt & Carter

(I don't know if you notice but Jace does not like to look at the camera.)

Another great quote that I read this morning:

"When in doubt, do the positive. Can't decide whether you should get all dressed up and go to that party? Don't know if you should intrude on a new neighbor with a homemade welcome cake? worried that an old lady would find you rude for offering to help her with her grocery bags? Do the positive! Go to the party, bake the cake, help the old lady. A life of doing is better than one of regretting what you didn't dare to do."

- Jeanne Marie Laskas

I was reading in the Ensign this morning and loved this:
"We don't make messes; we make memories."

This week Jace learned 2 things:

How to take Daddy's football helmet out of its display case and put it on.

How to climb up onto the changing table and turn on his bedroom lights.