michael and kylie bair

livin it up prego style

2012-01-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

If I had to sum up my experience being pregnant thus far, the words that come to mind are the lyrics from Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold. I'm not a huge fan of her or the song, but I feel like the lyrics perfectly describe the last three and a half months. Life has seemed a little bit like a rollercoaster.

For example, during my first trimester I could not get enough pickles. I would come home from school, bust open a jar of pickles and go to town. And I’m not talking about the chips, I’m talking about the big ones the size of hot dogs. We literally went through jars of pickles. NOW, I can’t stand pickles. Just writing about them makes me feel pretty nauseous. Michael, being the amazing husband that he is, realizing my new love for pickles stocked up so now we have a plethora of pickles that I’m not touching. So – anyone need some extra pickles?

Next, up and down moment – Michael and I saw The Help (towards the end of my first trimester), which is an absolutely phenomenal movie and obvious tearjerker right? Yeah…was not expecting to get emotional before the movie during the Dolphin Tale preview. Okay, so let’s rewind just a bit. I had heard all sorts of wonderful things about The Help and was so excited all day and was ecstatic by the time we actually arrived at the theater. I was very happy UNTIL the random Dolphin Tale preview. Michael looked over at me when he heard my sniffles and stared at me in pure shock. Michael – “Um…I didn’t know you liked animals that much.” Kylie – “I don’t.” Michael – “Why are you crying?” Kylie – “I don’t know. Quit looking at me.”

Alright, last fun example I’m going to share. Michael and I love BYU sports and we adore BYU Basketball (I even capitalized it). We watch every game, attend every home game, and live and die with each win and loss. This Saturday the boys played Santa Clara. We arrived to the game a little early because we like to watch the players warm up and make pre-game synopses of how we think the game will go, who will be the player of the game, etc. Sadly, after about the first 5 minutes of the game I was ready to go home. The strong foul aromas in the Marriot Center were enough to make me want to puke all over the row in front of us. I shared this desire with Michael and he obviously was very distraught and confused – “You love BYU basketball!? The game just started!” My wise husband compromised and bought me a sprite (which I’ve learned soothes my sickly stomach), I breathed through my mouth instead of my nose, and we stayed and enjoyed the rest of the game (which we won).

So in summary, pregnancy thus far - I "change my mind like a girl changes clothes", my husband is a champ, and we love our baby! :)

love starts with a heartbeat

2012-01-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Yup, it’s official folks! Michael and I are expecting our first baby in July. We feel extremely blessed and are sooo excited!

Last Friday we had our first appointment with our OB doctor. As we walked into the doctor's office Michael squeezed my hand and whispered that he was nervous. Ironically, all Michael had to do was sit in a cushioned chair while I on the other hand had to pee in a cup (which always ends up being a messy situation), undress completely, have all sorts of uncomfortable tests and examinations performed, and explain in detail a plethora of personal facts.

The doctor then asked me to lie down and she pulled out a metal object that had a speaker-like-thing attached to it on one end and a stethoscope-like-thing to the other. She placed one end of the very cold stethoscope against my stomach and began moving it around. She explained to us that she was looking for a heartbeat. After a few moments of her searching I began to feel nervous - "What if there's not a baby in there after all?" "What if I have just been sick for the last 3 months with the flu?"

And then the searching stopped on the left side of my lower abdomen and Michael and I heard the sweetest sound - our baby's heartbeat! Our baby has a heartbeat! Our baby is growing and living inside of me! We felt a flood of emotions - gratitude, excitement, and most of all love.

crazy, busy holiday update

2011-12-22T09:43:00.000-08:00

Attended MSW ugly sweater party. I never ceased to be amazed at the flabbergasting concoctions that designers muster up.Another one bites the dust - I finished the semester!!! {halle-freakin-lujah} I must admit, I wasn't sure if I was going to survive finals week but alas - I'm still alive and kickin!

Celebrated the most wonderful time of the year at Grandma Dawson's Christmas Party with Santa and family
Threw my amazing friend Jessa a surprise birthday party! Celebrated Hanukkah by eating festive Jewish food with Kelso {food provided by Kelso...I wonder how she knew how to make Jewish food....?} and played dominos - mexican train style! Random combination I know...

Visited temple square, loved the lights as always!And now I feel like celebrating by drinking some hot chocolate and taking a nap :)

The Coat: A Story of Charity

2011-12-16T08:10:00.000-08:00

This video reminded us without even using words what the purpose of Christmas is, to take care of others as Christ would. We love Christmas and we want our family and friends to know that we love them.

Have miracles ceased?

2011-12-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

I would say a legitimate fear that I have had for about the last year and a half (which ironically is the same time I entered the MSW program) is not graduating. Actually, I often have nightmares about forgetting to turn in my homework, or missing school, or just being told that I cannot graduate. Scary I know! I think I am most afraid of investing time, money, and energy and receiving nothing in the end.

In general I feel pretty confident in most aspects of school - theories, application, law, working with various populations, testing, writing papers, etc. I strongly feel inadequate though when in comes to statistics and research. It's especially difficult to feel like a rookie around abunch of brilliant allstar statisticians. In my mind I felt like the only thing that realistically could hold me back from graduating is failing my research and statistics courses which is heavily graded on my research paper.

I have grown a love/hate relationship with this paper (mostly hate) and after putting in about a year and half's time, effort, and energy I finally turned in my paper and received a grade. Ladies and gents, boys and girls, I got an A!!!! Actually an A- but still nonetheless I got an A! and I passed!

Have miracles ceased? I say unto you NAY! Good bye nightmares, hello graduation! :)

Give Thanks

2011-11-24T05:49:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is such a special time of year. I love that this holiday soley focuses on the quality of gratitude (and let's be honest, it's also a perk that it is socially acceptable to pig out). Michael & I recognize that the virtue of gratitude is so significant in creating a life of happiness.

Speaking of gratitude President Monson said, "We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."

There is always so much to be grateful for.

First and foremost, I am grateful for Michael. Being married to a good man - who could ask for more?
I am grateful for family - we both have been blessed to be raised by wonderful parents and to have AMAZING, supportive siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.
I am grateful for friends and neighbors - we seriously have been so blessed to have great friends.
I am grateful for health - often I think the only time I really recognize and appreciate my health is when I have been sick BUT how blessed I am to have good health
I feel like I should also add that I am grateful for Wendy's 99 cent menu, specifically their chicken nuggets and frostys. I have developed a deep love and appreciation for good, fast, cheap food... :)
This may be a stretch but I think I should give a shout out to education. Although it's not always "fun" I am grateful to be getting a masters degree at BYU. I am grateful to learn and grow and to experience all the wonderful opportunities that come with learning.
I am grateful that Michael and I are financially stable. We both have good jobs that we enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving today and everyday!

2011-11-22T20:40:00.000-08:00

Take a close look and see if you can see anything really cool about this picture besides BYU scoring a touchdown?
Answer: Michael scoring first row seats with his buddy Paul!!! We were a little ahead of the ref in recognizing the touchdown.

The Jenkin's

2011-11-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

Recently we were very fortunate to attend Kevin's baptism. He recently turned 8 years old and decided that he wanted to follow the Savior's example and be baptized. We are so proud of him for his decision to do this and for the many good things he is choosing to do in his life right now. He is a great brother and a big help to his mom.We love this family so much. They have changed our lives since we have been here in Provo and feel they are such a blessing to us in our lives.

Michael's Therapeutic Blogging

2011-11-13T20:46:00.000-08:00

Well...this was a tough weekend. Two years in a row, two missed field goals. BCS National Championship game possibility. WHY!!!!!!!! That's all I have to say...

One romantic devil

2011-11-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

So, there are obvious qualities that describe Michael - friendly, hard working, easy going, responsible, kind, punctual, task oriented, etc. A quality that may not be so easily recognized is romantic. My Michael is seriously so romantic and I love it!

Michael is so good at reminding me how much he loves and appreciates me and I am so grateful for that. Sometimes he leaves little notes in my backpack, sings me songs on my voicemail, and sometimes he will send me emails throughout the day. Today was one of those days that he sends me a sweet email:

Dearest kylie,
thanks for your email. I listened to prez uchdorf’s talk yesterday about golden tickets instead of always looking for the ticket, realizing how many tickets you have right now. You are one of my golden tickets kylie and I really appreciate all you do. You make me smile every day and very happy. Keep up the good work. Enjoy school while you are going. Thanks for all you do for me. You make my life meaningful. Love ya. michael

I am one lucky girl! I am grateful to have such a sweet husband!

Fantastic Fall

2011-11-06T13:26:00.000-08:00

Although we enjoy summer we have grown to love the fall in Provo. The leaves grow old and the colors are so vibrant. We decided to enjoy this beautiful time of year by taking a hike at the foot of Squaw Peak. It was rejuvenating to get some fresh air and enjoy God's beautiful creations.

Me & my honey buns!

Halloweened Out

2011-11-01T07:50:00.001-07:00

You know how sometimes you can get "worn out"? Well, this year Michael and I were officially "Halloweened out." We had just about all the Halloween celebrating 2 usually non-Halloweenish people could take. So just a few of the fun, spooky highlights:

So I'm sure you've all been anticipating what crazy couple costume Michael and I would pull of this year and....(drum roll please) Michael had the fun idea of dressing up as Mario and Luigi. Our homemade overalls are actually some of Michael's old blue shirts that he so sweetly sacrificed. Yes we do have mustaches and no they are not real :) Michael actually loved his so much he wore his to work the next day (I am being serious.)
And of course with Halloween celebrating the classic mummy wrapping and doughnut eating. Ironically, when Michael wrapped me up, most of the wrapping was over my mouth.... :)I love this picture of Michael!This is baby Ellie the Unicorn! No, she is not ours but we would definitely claim her! Isn't she adorable?Michael and I hosted our own Halloween party "The Killer Grizzly Bair Halloween Bash!" We made creepy refreshments. (Although scary looking they were delectable to eat!)
and had scary larger than life pizza (scary for those who value life and fear their arteries getting clogged!) The pizza size is actually called XX-large and is 2 feet in diameter. The American dream right?
Well, Happy post-Halloween folks!

The Oquirrh Mountain Temple

2011-10-29T10:24:00.001-07:00

Recently we were able to go to the beautiful Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was amazing on the inside and out. The chandelier, pictures, colors, and the peaceful feeling inside were unlike anything else. Then we came out and there was a picturesque view of the mountains.

A very crazy, MAD tea party

2011-10-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

In early celebration of Halloween, our friends Adam & Megan invited us to "a very crazy, un-Halloween, MAD tea party" and we were so excited to go! Megan has quite the reputation of throwing A.MAZ.ING parties and once again she went above and beyond and definitely impressed.As alluded to, the night's theme was Alice in Wonderland style. After googling Alice in Wonderland and figuring out potential costume ideas, Michael dressed up as the white rabbit and I decided to dress up as Alice. Michael got pretty creative and made his own ears and hooked a clock that generally sits on a shelf in our apartment on his belt as a giant watch.
We were graced with the presence of Harry Potter & Co. (including authentic wands), the queen of hearts, Dwight, and so many fun characters. We had such a wonderful time and are so blessed to have great friends. Happy un-Halloween!

In a Box

2011-10-12T20:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend my friend Jess from the social work program called and asked if Michael and I would be interested in attending the BYU vs. San Jose game with them – in a box. I’m not talking about a brown box but a box seat up above the crowd! And of course we said YES!
So we got to the game early and much to my pleasant surprise several other friends from the program were there! It was amazing! We walked towards these things which I had always assumed were columns and they turned out to be elevators. When we got to our box Michael broke the silence and said “This is the best day of my life!” It really was a lot to take in at once :)

To make a good night even better, we got free food, met some cool people, and last but not least won the game. On our walk home we were on cloud 9!

Opportunities to Do Good

2011-10-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

Often when I read and watch the news it can be sad and depressing. It is nice to watch a happy story.

Rexburg Reunion

2011-10-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

How we LOVE our dear friends from Rexburg! Looking back we realize that it wasn't so much the place that we loved , but the people that made our experience there so wonderful! We had such a fun night reminiscing and catching up with everyone. It's fun to see the amazing things people are doing and how everyone's little families are growing. Good friends truly are some of life's greatest blessings!

We love you guys and hope to see you again soon!

General Conference - No Ordinary Blessing

2011-10-07T11:42:00.000-07:00

We love General Conference and had a wonderful conference weekend. It truly is such a blessing to hear inspired messages from our church leaders (and it's also a perk to hangout in pajamas all day!) I am amazed by the messages shared and how they always seem to be tailored to my individual needs and concerns. Here are a couple of personal highlights from conference:

President Monson: "...Evolving at a rapid rate has been the moral compass of society. Behaviors which once were considered inappropriate and immoral are now not only tolerated but also viewed by ever so many as acceptable.

Although the world has changed, the laws of God remain constant. They have not changed; they will not change. The Ten Commandments are just that—commandments. They are not suggestions. They are every bit as requisite today as they were when God gave them to the children of Israel.

Our code of conduct is definitive; it is not negotiable."

President Eyring: "Every member of the Church has the same sacred charge. We accepted it and promised to rise to it as we were baptized. e learn from the words of Alma, the great Book of Mormon prophet, what we promised God that we would become: “Willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.”

President Uchtdorf's talk from the Relief Society Broadcast: "In our diligent efforts to fulfill all of the duties and obligations we take on as members of the Church, we sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long to-do list, as a block of time that we must somehow fit into our busy schedules. We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.

The “what” and “how” of obedience mark the way and keep us on the right path. The “why” of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic. It magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration."

Jimmer's Allstar Game

2011-09-22T21:30:00.001-07:00

What a night! Michael and I could not miss the chance to see Jimmer work his magic in the Marriott Center one more time! We went to Jimmer's Allstar game tonight and it was A-MAZ-ING! It was fun seeing so much talent on one court. If I had to sum up the game I would probably say 1. Lots of dunking 2. Lots of as Michael says "razzle dazzle" on the court 3. Lots of big, athletic black guys and last but not least 4. Lots of Jimmer worshipping :)

The first person we saw when we got there was UCONN's Kemba Walker. I'm not sure how I feel about the new goatee he's styling. Next we have our one and only Jim boy, Nolan Smith, Kemba Walker, and Kawhi Leonard. Nolan tore it up during the game!Jimmer doing what he does best! Teach me how to Jimmer...A very happy couple after a very happy night! Peace out Jimmer! Good luck with the Sacramento Kings!

share your support

2011-09-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

My newest adventure:

check it out:

http://opposethetide.blogspot.com/

the good, the bad, and the ugly

2011-09-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

THE GOOD:

On Saturday Michael ran the Spanish Fork Half Marathon. I am extremely proud of him. Doing an accomplishment like this takes time and dedication, which he put forth! He created his
own "training plan" which included running regularly and cutting down on the hamburgers and dr. pepper. He beat his Teton Dam half marathon record and finished strong!

THE BAD:

On Sunday after church I had a meeting and visits to make so Michael went home after church by himself. While he was walking out of the church building he was STUNG BY A BEE ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD! I am being serious!

THE UGLY:

Well, I had NO CLUE this had happened! When I walked into the apartment all the curtains were were closed and it was completely dark inside. I was pretty freaked out. I called out Michael's name and I found him lying on the lovesack in the living room looking totally unconscious. At this point I am COMPLETELY freaked out! I go over to him and he told me about the dang bee and asked me to pull the stinger out of his head...yikes! Luckily the stinger had already fallen out but the back of his head looked like he had gotten hit with a fast-pitch baseball. (This is the part that was pretty ugly...) So Dr. Kylie googled what to do and learned to put toothpaste on the sting to neutralize the venom. I then added a little bit of my own medicine, a glass of ice cold black cherry pop, ibuprofen, a pillow, and sleep.

Michael dear, I am glad you are healing well and didn't let that mean ol' bee get the best of you!

Goodbye Summer

2011-09-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

Michael and I had a freakishly fantastic summer. Highlights would probably include traveling, camping, hiking, lots of ice cream, sleeping in, spending time with family and friends, running, swimming, and just enjoying the adventures that each day brought! Although we feel a tinge of sorrow now that summer is over, there truly are so many wonderful things that we are looking forward to:

With the fall and school starting comes college football! So far BYU and BSU won their first games!!! woot woot! Michael and I got BYU season tickets and for the away games are planning on throwing some serious football parties!

I'm just finishing up my second week of classes. With each new semester comes some readjusting and I think I'm finally getting the hang of my new schedule. It's hard to believe that after this semester I will only have 1 more left! Graduation here I come!

I started a new internship at LDS Family Services and will do individual and group therapy, work with adoptions, and do assessments on missionaries. It seems like a lot of treatment will be focused on SGA (same-gender attraction) and pornography addiction interventions which I am excited to gain experience with.

Michael is really enjoying his job in the legal department and especially loves casual Friday's. He also has been training for a half-marathon which he will be running this Saturday. He has been training so hard and I am so excited for him! He also is in the process of applying graduate programs. It's actually quite a long process. His applications are due around December and he will not hear back until around next April.

Michael and I also did quite a bit of traveling during the summer and are looking forward to being able to stay home and relax on the weekends! We truly have come to love Provo and appreciate the simple joys that each day brings.

My New Favorite Number: 4

2011-08-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

As today is our four year anniversary, I wanted to make note of a few of the reasons why this last year was so special…

4 THINGS I’LL NEVER FORGET FROM THIS LAST YEAR:

-Going to Zion’s National Park. The hikes were exhilarating and beautiful.

-Attending BYU Football and Basketball games. Goooooo……Cougars!

-Old Nauvoo. Our testimonies were strengthened together during this life changing experience.

-The Temples. Attending places of Heaven on Earth together.

4 WAYS YOU MADE ME SMILE BIG THIS YEAR:

-The time you told me you were in the library on campus. Someone got off the elevator and you got on. It smelt horrible and then someone else got on the elevator with you making it look like it was you.

-The time we went to Thanksgiving Point and we both got tower ice cream cones. I looked over after you started laughing to see your ice cream balanced between your cone and your shirt.

-When you had your wisdom teeth pulled. When you were waking up afterwards your only question was, “Where are my teeth?” I, along with the oral surgeon and several nurses, would tell you they were gone and had to be thrown away. Every time you would get really sad and say, “But I wanted to put them under my pillow for the tooth fairy!”

-When you smile at me and I can tell that you are happy.

4 THINGS I ADMIRE EVEN MORE ABOUT YOU:

-You are always doing good for me and for others.

-You are always trying to live a Christian life and look to improve each day.

-You enjoy life and the adventure that we are on.

-Your smile, your sweetness, your awesomeness, and your love.

4 WAYS I’D LIKE TO TELL YOU:

-Ti amo (Italian)

-Te quiero (Spanish)

-Pag-ibig ko sa iyo (Filipino)

-I love you

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

Zion's National Park, St. George, and a little R&R

2011-08-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

This weekend Michael and I got off work early, packed our bags, and headed down south to St. George for some rest & relaxation! We had an amazing time!

The first night there we went to the St. George temple. It was so beautiful! We've become quite the history junkies and learned that the St. George temple is actually the 3^rd oldest temple built since the restoration of the gospel - Kirtland, Nauvoo, and then St. George. The pioneers were so resourceful and built the temple out of the much available sandstone. THEN they put plaster over the temple and painted it white! They have to re-plaster/paint it every few years to keep it looking good! Crazy huh?

We also saw Brigham Young's winter home. It was amazing to be in the home of a prophet and learn more about him. His house is painted green and white. We learned that it is painted green because when the saints were ordering white paint for the temple, they were accidentally sent some green paint so instead of throwing it away they used it on Brigham Young's home!

The next day we got up early and headed to Zion’s National Park. Let the adventures begin!!

The first hike we went on was Angel’s Landing. We learned that it was named “Angels Landing” by a religious minister who said that “only an angel would be able to make it to the top”. We had heard a lot about this hike from friends and were so excited to try it out.

We have gone on a lot of hikes, but this hike was unlike any other we've been on because of its long drop offs. The last section of the hike is along a steep, narrow ridge that you have to hold on to chains that have been nailed into the side of the cliff so you don’t fall! Michael kept on telling me, "Don't look down!"

The other hike that we went on is called the Narrows. We were told that this is Zion’s most beautiful hike and I would have to agree. It was absolutely gorgeous! To hike the Narrows you have to hike in the Virgin River. The majority of the hike was spent wading, walking, or swimming in the river. At one point I jumped on Michael’s back on hung on for dear life! This was also a very unique hike that we absolutely loved!!!

We spent the rest of the weekend shopping, eating, reading, sleeping, and swimming at the pool. Oh how we LOVE vacation! It was so fun to get away with Michael for the weekend and have ourselves a grand ol' time!

Good Morning Voldemort!

2011-08-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Michael and I have gotten into a bad habit of going to bed late (which for us is like 11:00-11:30...sad I know.) This morning after we dragged ourselves out of bed and were getting ready for the day, Michael was in the bathroom and got a look at himself in the mirror. I then heard - "Holy crap, I look like Voldemort!" This made me laugh out loud! I asked him what the heck he meant.

"Look how red and baggy my eyes are!"

Dear Michael - even with the reddest, baggiest eyes, even if you lost all your hair, broke your nose, never saw saw the sun, and never brushed your teeth - you will never look like Voldemort! you handsome devil you!

Kissed by a Brazilian

2011-08-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

So I have made it a personal goal to try and greet the new sisters in Relief Society. I think coming to a new ward for the first time can be a bit scary so I like try and help them feel at home. I recently welcomed a new sister with a thick Portuguese accent. She was super nice and friendly! I told her that Michael and I love Brazilians and told her about our good Brazilian friend Moroni. We talked about this and that and then finally when the conversation was wrapping up I stuck my hand out to give her a nice handshake when she went in for a hug - or so I thought! I was so surprised when she gave me a kiss! I wasn't quite sure how to react so I just did my normal thing - smiled big and then walked away.

Still a little confused about what happened that day, that night I called my Dad who had served his mission in Brazil. Our conversation went somewhat like this:

Me: "Dad, I have a question. Today I got kissed by a Brazilian. Is that normal?"
Dad: First he laughed and then stopped and asked "Was it a man?" (Ironically this was also the first question Michael asked me when I had told him what happened.)
Me: "No"
Dad: "Well, that's good... was it on the lips?"
Me: "No"
Dad: "Yup, sounds pretty normal!"

So moral of the story - It's good to learn about and appreciate other cultures! and although this experience was very unexpected, at least it wasn't a man or on the lips!

Hawaiian Style

2011-07-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

With the great weather and a day off of work, we decided to bust out the leis and throw a Hawaiian Luau!

The lovely ladies

The Sebastian's brought some yummy authentic Hawaiian food - musubi and some other white pudding stuff that tasted like coconut...mmm. It was delic!

So this is the musubi - fried spam, covered in rice, wrapped in seaweed. Although it might not sound totally appealing it was seriously so good!

The Nelson's + Jeff

We are so lucky to have good neighbors! We love the Robinson's especially their little guy Elijah. Isn't he adorable?


After devouring our Hawaiian style feast we tested our athleticism by playing some croquet.It was so much fun! At times the competition was pretty intense, but luckily everyone observed their croquet etiquette! :) I love this picture I snapped of the boys - discussing their next big shot!

Mahalo!!!

Some Bair Necessities

2011-07-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend the Bair's came to Provo and we had such a stinkin good time! I've learned that when we're with the Bair's there 's somethings that I can always count on, or in other words that are "bair necessities" (clever right?) Some of these things include:

Lots of family - On Friday Michael's cousin got married in the Draper temple. (Welcome to the family Ashley!) This special occasion was celebrated with aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. On Saturday we drove to Logan for a family reunion where we got to see even more family! At the reunion we saw Michael's great-aunt Josie. She is so cute and we love seeing her.

Lots of food - I never have to worry about going hungry when we're with the Bair's. Actually, we probably have the opposite problem happen. While they were here we had some delic food! For breakfast one morning we had krispy cream doughnuts that seriously melt in your mouth, we went to Cafe Rio, had a BBQ, homemade ice cream and on the way back from Logan took them for a treat at Thanksgiving Point.

Competition - The Bair's love playing games, even more than playing games they love to win. With Jeanna around the trash talking at times can get pretty intense but we still have a good time :) We spent several afternoons and evenings playing croquet, card games, board games, and I can officially say that I lost at everything :) I'm thinking if we had a dance dance revolution contest that I may have a chance...

Lots of stinkin fun - There's a never a dull moment with the Bair's. We went to Nickel City, mini golfing, hiked to a waterfall, toured BYU - even just riding in the car at times was an adventure! We love our family and LOVE spending time with them! We had such a great time and can't wait to see them again soon!

Jordan River Temple & Deer Creek Reservoir

2011-07-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

The day began with visiting a new temple, the Jordan River Temple. It is a beautiful temple. I'm thankful that families do not end at death, but I know that I will see my family again and that I can be with them throughout eternity! There is no greater blessing in the world than this.

The second part of the day was spent at Deer Creek Reservoir. We layered on the sunscreen, but we still got fried! We spent some time on the beach reading. Then we took our little blow up boat out on the water, paddled around, and had a great time.

Squaw Peak, Brad Paisley, and 4th of July Cake

2011-07-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

If you would like to know a fabulous recipe for some 4th of July fun just keep reading. On Saturday Michael and I got up early and drove to the base of Squaw Peak.The drive itself was literally like 5 minutes. We can see Squaw Peak from our apartment and refer to as being in "our backyard". After almost a year of living in Provo and seeing the giant on a daily basis, we decided it was about darn time to climb it!

This is Squaw Peak . . .

This is us on top of Squaw Peak

This is me celebrating that we made it to the top. Yeah!

The hike itself was beautiful. It was mostly made up of foresty areas next to a stream but a fellow hiker informed us along the way that once we made it to a meadow we were almost to the top. The meadow of bright, yellow flowers was probably my favorite part.

After the hike we were a bit sore, extremely tired, and somewhat fried from the sun. After taking a nap and somewhat recuperating we headed to the Stadium of Fire! to see Brad Paisley! I hope my excessive use of exclamation points helps you understand just how excited we were! It seriously was so fun. Brad Paisley was amazing, we love his music, and it was a great performance.

Brad was generous enough to stop and take a picture with us... :)

So obviously this picture is a little blurry - but I promise, it's Brad.

Not only did the Stadium of Fire have awesome music, but parachuters flew in, David Archuleta was there, they had Jimmer tell the crowd hello, there was a shout out from Dave Rose and the BYU basketball team, an amazing firework show...it was simply awesome.

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with friends. For the 4th Paul & Jessica invited us to one of the snazziest BBQ's I've ever been to. Jessica is one of the most talented, crafty people I know and in celebration of the 4th she made the coolest, patriotic cake. Isn't she amazing? If it wasn't so delicious I may have had a hard time eating something so beautiful!

It was an extremely fun, relaxing weekend to celebrate our nation's birth! Happy Birthday America!

Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo

2011-06-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

On June 10th my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary! Aren't they stinkin adorable? I love my Dad's sideburns in this picture. We tease him that he looks a little like Austin Powers. Anyways, in celebration my parents decided to take the whole family to Nauvoo. It was such a fun vacation!

Here we are at the Salt Lake airport waiting for our flight. Don't we look like an enthusiastic bunch? Our plane left at 7:30 am and my parents like being a few hours early so this is what we look like at the crack of dawn. The craziest thing happened while we were waiting for our flight! Michael and I were taking a stroll through the airport when lo and behold we run into one of my best friend's from Burley! Crazy little world isn't it? Mallory was with her husband Brady and they were heading to Florida. It was so fun seeing them and catching up. We also realized that we were also going to be on the same flight to Vegas! Love you Mal!

We had a layover in Vegas and had some time to spare... don't worry folks, I didn't win anything :)

We arrived in Kansas City and hung out with our family there. I love my Uncle Dale's expression in this picture! He's such a funny guy. We went downtown, saw the Royal's and Chief's stadiums, and just had a lot of fun exploring Kansas. Michael saw firefly's for the first time and we loved watching them at night!

The next day we got up early and visited Independence Missouri. We also toured some of the Church of Christ's (formerly known as RLDS) sites, including their temple. Up close it looks like a shiny upside down ice cream cone.

One of my favorite places to visit was the ironically named Liberty Jail. It was amazing to see the circumstances and environment the prophet endured. If you get a chance you should listen to Elder Holland's talk on Liberty Jail. In Liberty Jail, Joseph received a lot of guidance and several sections of the D&C.

On way from Kansas to Nauvoo we also visited Far West and Adam-Ondi-Ahman. Here my Dad is posing like a stud with brother Joseph in Far West. Far West, Missouri is where the Saints resided after being driven from Ohio.

Adam-ondi-ahman was beautiful.

We stayed at the Rufus Abbott Manor. The home was originally built in the 1840s but the inside had been remodeled. It had a really nice kitchen so we were able to have homemade meals. The first night we stayed here there was a CRAZY thunder/lightning storm. When the lightning would strike our whole room lit up!

Nauvoo in Hebrew means "beautiful." It truly was a beautiful place! I've never seen such lush, green forests. Everything was blooming. The weather was perfect. I was worried about the humidity but it actually wasn't too bad.

This stone arch is located in Nauvoo and was seen in the Joseph Smith movie.

Michael and I would go running in the morning. On this particular morning we ran to what is called "the groves". Here, the Saints often held meetings. Many early church leaders shared messages in these groves.

We also visited an old Pioneer cemetery. It's located right outside Nauvoo in a forest. Many of the individuals buried here are children who passed away during the settlement of Nauvoo.

The Nauvoo temple was amazing! It is so beautiful inside and out! The temple was rebuilt and dedicated in 2002.

My asian sensation sister Kelso and I at the Nauvoo temple.

This picture was taken in the Cultural Hall. This is where the Saints would gather to have a good time.

Just wanted to add this picture for fun. Isn't he a cutie?

This picture was taken in front of the Wilford Woodruff home. The sister dressed up is serving her mission in Nauvoo with her husband and are friend's of my parents from Burley. What a small world!

We took a tour of Joseph Smith's red brick store. It was located near the Mississippi River. We are on the second level above the actual store. It was here that the Relief Society was organized.

I never realized how HUGE the Mississippi River is. It's about 2 miles across. The Saints crossed the frozen Mississippi in February 1842. I am amazed at their courage!

What a bunch of goofballs!

We made it back to Provo safely and are getting back into the swing of things. We just finished unpacking and brought home some snazzy souvenirs. Thanks mom and dad for the amazing trip! We are so grateful for the opportunity we had to gain a better understanding of the restoration of the gospel and to spend so much time with family!

Moments That Matter Most

2011-06-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

We love this video and wanted to share it with those we care for!

My Sunset Bench

2011-06-09T16:50:00.000-07:00

I enjoy wood projects. Most of the time they do not turn out because I'm cheap and do not have the right tools and wood. I wanted something for Kylie and I to be able to sit on and watch the sunsets. I came across some free wood. It is not perfect, but you can sit on it (softly) without it breaking.

Mission Accomplished: A bench to enjoy the evenings with my sweetheart!

oh the joys of growing up...

2011-06-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

This morning at 6:30 the alarm went off. Michael got up and began the morning routine. I continued to lay in bed and began to realize that my throat hurt. Next I noticed that my ears hurt. I continued to lay in bed and the thought came into my mind, "I wish my mom could call in sick for me."

I remember when I was really young, probably 1st or 2nd grade that I did not want to go to school one day. I told my mom I was feeling sick and that she had better call the school and excuse me for the day. I was sitting at the kitchen counter eating breakfast when my mom got the thermometer out and said, "Let's see if you're really sick." As soon as my mom left the room I stuck the thermometer in my hot chocolate. Needless to say, I "had a fever" and stayed home that day.

Today, I did not get that lucky. I've been gagging down the cold medicine and drinking lots of water in hopes of a speedy recovery. Just the thought of missing class, my internship, and how that would effect my grades seemed to be the extra boost that I needed to crawl out of bed.

The realization sunk in today that my mom can't call in and excuse me for the day, responsibilities don't take sick days, and that I must be growing up :)

Shoshone Falls

2011-06-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

Today we took a trip to Shoshone Falls. It was beautiful.

let the good times roll

2011-05-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

You just gotta love Memorial Day weekend! Who doesn't enjoy an extra day to chillax? :)

We spent the extra long weekend with our family! Our little sister Brianna came to Provo - Isn't she cute?

and Colby and Eric. (If you look closely you will notice that they are wearing matching Cabela's hats)

We seriously had so much fun! Although the weather was dreary, nothing could stop us from letting the good times roll! They got here Friday and that night we went out to dinner with Colby's family and visited campus. For the first time we went to the art museum which was actually really awesome!

Brianna LOVES shopping so we went shopping, and shopping and then some more shopping. We went to a bazillion stores in the mall and then to Cabela's for the boys.

This is us at Cabela's, exhausted from shopping. If you could see Michael (who took the picture) he is laying in a lazy boy recliner chair.

This is me spending some quality time with a giant moose at Cabela's. hehe

We went to Thanksgiving Point and had some delicious ice cream. Michael and I decided that it was a good thing that we did not live closer to the ice cream parlor because obesity would be a likely destiny - we just enjoy ice cream too much!

We also took a tour of Provo Canyon and drove up to the top of squaw peak. It was beautiful! We also went to Kung Fu Panda 2 which was really good. Sequels always make me a bit nervous because you never know if it's going to be a let down but we give the movie two thumbs up.

It was some pretty crazy fun times. We love our family and can't wait to see them again soon!

A Precious Treasure

2011-05-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

There are maybe a handful of things in my life that I consider precious treasures. I think this can be discerned if people were to ask themselves questions like, “What would I grab if my home were on fire and I had just a minute to run through and save something?” or “If I were to be left on a deserted island for the rest of my life, what would I want to have with me?”

One of my treasures is The Book of Mormon. It is the word of God. The Book of Mormon along with the Bible guides me through life and brings me a feeling of peace that is unlike anything else in the world. God is real. He is my Father in Heaven. He cares about me and answers my prayers through the written words of His prophets.

I know that anyone can read this and come to know for themselves that there really is a God. Anyone can come to know their true identity. Anyone can find comfort and peace during the difficult times that we face in life.

This is important to me – a precious treasure!

It is a treasure offered to anyone willing and in need.

http://mormon.org/book-of-mormon/

My Ancestor: Great, Great, Great, Grandpa James Hurren

2011-05-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of work trying to find my ancestors and learn who they are. I came across this story yesterday about my Great, Great, Great Grandpa James Hurren. I love family history and I feel like I really gain strength coming to know what has been done before me.

James Hurren

Birth: Feb. 24, 1827

Suffolk, England

Death: Dec. 6, 1909

Hyde Park

Cache County
Utah, USA

Married Eliza Reeder Sep 28 1850 in Linstead Parva, Suffolk, England. Crossed the plains in the Willie Handcart Company. James was traveling with his wife, Eliza Reeder Hurren, and their four daughters: Mary (7), Emma ( 4), and Sarah ( 2). Their youngest daughter, Selena, was born on July 14, 1856 at Iowa City. She lived only 2 weeks and died at Cherry Creek, along the trail in Iowa. They were also accompanied by Eliza's father, David Reeder, and Eliza's sister,Caroline Reeder, who both died on the trail, and Eliza's brother, Robert Reeder.

James was very strong and healthy. He was considered the strongest man in his company and was always willing to do more than his share. In addition to the family baggage and cooking utensils, he put as many as five extra sacks of flour (which weighed 100 pounds each) on his cart when the emigrants were asked to add the flour to their loads. Many complained about carrying even one sack. He also gave rides to two little girls who were not able to walk. The physically capable men stood guard duty at night,and in this, too, James far exceeded his quota of hours. Eliza worried that he would ruin his health, but Captain Willie promised him that if only one man in the company reached the Valley, it would be James. James did retain his health but two of his daughters were very sick, and they missed their Aunt Caroline, who was 17 years old. She had died on the trail, just before they had reached Independence Rock.

The weather grew colder each day, and Mary's feet eventually froze. When the family finally arrived in the Valley, their first concern was little Mary's frozen feet. They took her to a doctor and he said her legs would have to be amputated or she would die. Her father protested, "This little girl didn't walk a thousand miles to have her legs cut off. If she dies, she will die with her legs on."

The family moved to Brigham City to make their home and an elderly lady, Mrs. Snider, told them to get some fresh steak and wrap her feet in it and call her after three days. Fresh meat was not available where they lived, so Mary's father walked 20 miles to Ogden, got a steak, and walked back. When the beefsteak was removed after three days, Mrs. Snider applied homemade ointment on Mary's legs and feet. Within a few days the rotten flesh dropped off. Mary was able to walk again in two years.After they arrived in the Valley, James and Eliza were asked how they felt about their ordeal. They were quick to reply, 'With all our trials, our weary traveling, burying our dear ones, piling our clothing and bedding by the wayside and setting fire to them, we have never once felt to murmur or complain or regret the steps we have taken."

To see more of what I have been finding, click on the tree picture on the side or click HERE.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!

2011-05-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

I would like to think that Michael and I appreciate diversity and as such we decided that we should celebrate Cinco De Mayo! Fiesta Ole! Growing up I never really celebrated Cinco De Mayo except for school assemblies and other politically correct settings but this year Michael and I decided that as a family that we should celebrate this holiday and would make Mexican food in celebration of Hispanics everywhere!

So, I went to my internship and was speaking to my Hispanic co-worker and good friend Gabriela. She grew up in Mexico and had been in the states for only a few years. I asked her if she had any big plans to celebrate the day. She looked at me confused and asked, "What are you talking about?" I then looked confused and said, "You know, Cinco De Mayo". She continued to look at me confused and then said, "Oh yeah...I guess it is. My family doesn't really celebrate Cinco De Mayo." I started laughing and told her how Michael and I had made plans to celebrate this "special" holiday.

She then informed me that Cinco De Mayo really isn't a big deal. I had always assumed it was Mexico's independence day when in all reality Gabriela told me that it was just in celebration of some random battle. She then told me that Cinco De Mayo is generally just celebrated by Mexicans who have lived their whole lives in America who don't really know what it's for. She then went on to tell me that her favorite holidays are Christmas and New Years Eve.

Well, I am happy to say that I am now more educated on the Hispanic culture and still enjoyed a nice meal of fajitas! Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Sam

2011-05-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Sam will always have a special place in my heart. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have Kylie. I served my mission with Sam in New Mexico. The door knocking, green chilies, P-Days, and Tucanos eventually had me and his sister dating, engaged, and married. I think of Sam as my good friend and as a brother.

There are several things that I admire about Sam. If I were to choose one way in which I felt him and Kylie were most alike I would say it is their hearts. Sam has a heart of gold. If you were out in the cold he would give you his shirt. If you were short a dollar he would give you everything in his wallet. He wants to cheer you up if you are sad. He will listen if you are having a difficult time. Just about every time I see or talk with Sam, he asks how each of my family members are doing by name.

I also admire Sam for his work ethic and diligence. He would do anything for his family to put food on the table. When he works, he works. I do not hear him whining or looking for ways to slack off. There are times in life when everyone gets knocked down and when this has happened to Sam he has jumped right back up. I watch him as he works hard to be a good husband and a good father.

Another thing that really stands out to me about Sam is his cheer. He was a bit knocked out from working 12 hour shifts the last time we saw him at Easter, but I love the fun, happy, and goofy Sam.

Now, because of Sam, to go along with the white shirt and tie memories, we have clay pigeon shooting, "the fat is the best part", playing pool, "Mexican's don't sunburn", and camping under the stars with the skunks.

Thank you Sam for being awesome...and Happy Birthday!

The Civility Experiment

2011-05-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

I majored in psychology essentially studying what makes people tick. Why do they act certain ways or think certain ways? Are we altruistic or hedonistic? Do we live in a deterministic world or is there choice and agency?

Here is a short experiment to watch and think about.

The video isn't an expensive research project producing earth shattering statistics. It is simple and profound.

-There are more ways to do good than bad.
-It doesn't cost a cent to be polite.
-Look at humanity a little different.

This video demonstrates the good nature of a young man and his perception of a single individual.

These messages are timely. It is nice to hear about good news in the world today. They are inspiring for me and have me pondering and reflecting on my perception, my actions, what good am I doing, and where can I do more? I hope you enjoy them as well.

The Lucky Uncle and Aunt

2011-05-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to say that recently we became a new uncle and aunt again. Welcome to the family Ryker Emery Barrus!

Nathan & Eli Taylor holding Ryker Barrus

Precious Boys!

Hero for a Day

2011-04-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be a hero for a day? Well, let me tell you :)

My story begins with last night. Michael was checking the weather because he really wanted to ride his bike to work the next day. He was a bit disappointed as the weather forecast predicted snow. After waking up to no snow in the morning my courageous husband said, "Honey, I'm riding my bike to work!"

He bundled up in a warm coat, wore a beanie, and gloves - hopped on his bike and began riding to work. After he left I decided to go for a quick run. I had been outside for maybe 5 minutes and noticed a little rain which soon turned into big snow flakes. It was freezing! I thought of my dear Michael! I ran back to our place, jumped in the car, and decided to find him! I noticed I had several missed calls from him on my phone...Yikes! When I eventually found Michael he looked like a very unhappy frozen icicle on wheels! After putting his bike in the car and turning the heater on high - Michael gave me a big kiss and said "Thank you for saving me!"

What an adventurous way to start the day!

Easter

2011-04-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

It is so easy to forget why we celebrate Easter.

No words in Christendom mean more to me than those spoken by the angel to the weeping Mary Magdalene and the other Mary as they approached the tomb to care for the body of their Lord: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen" (Luke 24:5-6). -Thomas S. Monson

I know that Christ lives and because He lives I know that my life does not end at death. The most important people in the world to me, Kylie and our family, will all live again together because of Jesus Christ. What a special time of year to celebrate!

I finished the beast!!!

2011-04-12T13:32:00.000-07:00

I did it! I finally finished what I have lovingly nicknamed, "the beast". You may be curious what "the beast" is. To fully understand how much I absolutely despise "the beast" I need to start from the beginning. Upon entering the BYU MSW program (about 1 year ago) I knew that I would have to finish a research project which would include finding a mentor, collecting data, running statistics, writing a lit review, etc.

To put it nicely I loathe statistics and have found research to be a thorn in my side. But ladies and gents after hours, days, weeks, months, tears, sweat, and some fried brain cells I can officially say, "I finished the beast!!!"

P.S. If anyone is interested in learning about therapeutic session number and religious ecclesiastic consultation's effect on PTSD symptomology and recovery, just let me know and I will send it your way!!! :)

Wisdom Teeth

2011-04-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

Last Friday Kylie had her wisdom teeth out. I'm proud of her for being tough, recovering quickly, and keeping up in school.

Now for the funny story that I hope to never forget. Kylie was knocked out to have her teeth pulled. As she was waking up her biggest concern was her teeth. "Where are my teeth" she would ask with her cute swollen cheeks very drowsily. The oral surgeon and his two assistants kept answering that they had to throw them away. Kylie's distressed response, "Now I can't put them under my pillow for the tooth fairy" followed by a tear or two.

What a sweetheart! She also asked the doctor why he would wear slippers to work. He was wearing Croc like shoes that she must have noticed before the surgery.

Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration

2011-04-04T10:08:00.001-07:00

I love this video. It is an accurate account of Joseph Smith, the man I know to be a prophet of God. Take the time to watch it. It will help you to understand what I believe and why I belive it. Pay attention and recognize feelings of peace and joy that come knowing that God still speaks to His children today through chosen people like Joseph Smith. You will also find the video by clicking here.

Teach Me How To Jimmer

2011-03-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

Sweet 16 - Go Cougars!!!

Integrity

2011-03-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

Recently a basketball player on BYU broke a rule that he said he would follow when signing up to attend the school. BYU has an honor code, a rule was broken, the student went to the proper school administrators, they made a decision immediately, and he is not playing the rest of the season. Many thought this was BYU’s year and that they could go far in the NCAA tournament.

Last year five star football players for Ohio State sold memorabilia for tattoos breaking major NCAA rules. Ohio State was going to play in a big bowl game and so the players were suspended for the first five unimportant games of next season and were allowed to compete in the bowl game so the school still had a chance. The famous coach of this high powered school said he knew nothing of this happening, but evidence recently was found that he did. Now he is wondering what will happen with his future.

I love sports, but I can’t stand the rule breaking and corruption that happens. I appreciate integrity, honesty, good sportsmanship, and the idea of living a good life being more important than winning. BYU did what was right. I’m grateful that my wife is attending a school that tries to honor such principles. While one school lies, justifies, denies, and hides what they have done and are doing a different school makes a stand, confronts the difficult issue, assists a young man rather than reinforcing poor behavior, and exemplifies integrity.

Kylie and I have been studying integrity this year. Integrity is defined as adherence to moral and ethical principles, soundness of moral character, honesty, and the state of being whole. Recently at work our CEO explained that with integrity there is keeping our word and honoring our word. If I tell someone I am going to do something, I better do it. There are things that come up which means we can’t always keep our word. What so many fail to do and realize is that they can always at least honor their word. If something comes up we can have the integrity to notify the right people to let them know and make sure things are still taken care of.

Sports revealed two types of people this week. We can simply ask ourselves - What kind of person do I want to be?

Kelsey

2011-02-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

When I first became a part of the Barrus family, I’ll be honest, I was a little bit afraid of my new sister Kelsey. Maybe it could be compared to a mafia situation. Kelsey loves her family, but if you cross the line she’ll take you out.

Kelsey is on the left

I still see Kelsey as very protective of those close to her which I admire, but now that I’ve been around for a while I feel like I have a better understanding of who Kelsey, Kelso, Chelso, and my sister really is.

The “light bulb” moment for me came while watching the animated movie Despicable Me (A two thumbs up movie!). There are three sisters in the movie and I told Kylie after watching the movie that they reminded me exactly of her and her sisters.

Kelsey, Kylie, & Amanda

Kelsey I would say is Edith, the second sister. Edith at times might be a little quiet, but you can tell she is listening and paying attention to what is going on. Edith is smart and quick with her comebacks on the movie. Kelsey is the same. When it came time to winning a huge unicorn for her little sister, Edith was there doing all she could to hit the target with the ball. Edith gives the impression that she is tough on the outside, but what you will find inside is a big heart that really cares. Maybe she won’t give you a hug, but she would dive in front of Vector’s shrink ray gun to save your life.

I find Kelsey very funny whether she is teasing Kylie or through the observations she makes. She enjoys sports and it was fun going to a Seattle Mariners game with her and Kylie. I appreciate her example of getting a higher education and how she is making a difference as a social worker in the lives of her clients. I’m excited to someday be a father and know that Kelsey will be an awesome aunt for my kids. What I find interesting is I often find myself thinking like Kelsey and being very similar in many ways.

So Kelsey, here is my not-a-hug blog for you. Thanks for being a great sister!

One of BYU's Biggest Fans...Great Aunt Josie

2011-02-12T20:09:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas this year, Kylie had the idea to drop in on Great Aunt Josie (My Dad's Mom's older sister, and great as in an amazing person). As we walked into her home she was just sitting down to watch the New Mexico Football Bowl game with BYU. Kylie had another awesome idea and asked Josie if she'd like to come to Provo to watch some BYU basketball. Her eyes lit up and she said, Yes!

The game: Utah vs. BYU. We knocked on Josie's door and we were excited to see her decked out in her BYU sweater. We got to the game early, enjoyed some great basketball, a victory by the Cougs, and then Josie took us out for dinner afterward.

Although I love sports, especially watching BYU do so well, there were two things that really stood out to me. This game was another excuse to spend time with what is most important - FAMILY. I love Kylie and our family. To spend time with them, do things with them, to talk, and to listen is priceless. The other thing that I really appreciate and envy is the goodness in my wife's heart. She is always thinking to herself, "What can I do for someone today?" I am grateful for her big heart and that I can join in and be a part of these experiences. This will be one of those days I will not forget.

You got Jimmered!

2011-02-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

So it's about time we post a little something about our beloved BYU basketball team and the even more beloved, Jimmer Fredette, the star of the team and leading scorer in the nation! woot! woot! Today we got to see BYU play UNLV at the Marriot Center and my parent's got to see for the first time, Jimmer live and in action. I also wanted to include a picture of the student section, it's referred to as the "white out." Cool huh? P.S. My mom doesn't like smiling with her teeth because she wears braces - she'll be getting them off soon though :)

You gotta love the giant poster of Jimmer's head that people bring to games - if you look at the people standing next to it you can kinda get an idea of the enormity of the poster! Other Jimmer posters we enjoy include "you got jimmered", "jimmer, will you marry my grandma?", and "WWJD - what would jimmer do?"

After beating UNLV today BYU currently is 21 -2 and faces Utah next Saturday! We're hoping they can win it all! Go Cougars!

Flip that House!

2011-01-25T14:44:00.000-08:00

So giving my Dad's office a facelift has been a gradual and seemingly everlasting project. Last weekend all the kids came home to tackle the beast and we finally finished it! It first began with him replacing the windows, no big deal right? Then he decided to redo an office upstairs - Michael and I painted that room in a jiffy. THEN he decided to rip off the wallpaper upstairs, down the stairway, and pretty much throughout the office. Yikes. To say the least it was a big, messy project. Taking off the wallpaper could be comparable to trying to get a piece of gum of the bottom of your shoe - difficult and time consuming! I have to laugh because I randomly took these pictures and if you notice, my Dad is pointing and giving orders in both pictures! He knows how to get the job done :)

Okay so enough talking. I will now show you the final results! Drum roll please....

We actually all were pretty happy with the final results and had a fun time working together. If you'd like a first hand experience touring the office, just go visit the prosecutor of cassia county :)

Condoleezza Rice Forum

2011-01-25T14:30:00.000-08:00

Beautiful, smart, inspiring - former secretary of state and a personal hero, Condoleezza Rice came to BYU. The Marriott Center was completely full and at the end she got a standing ovation. She spoke of personal experiences while serving in the White House, lessons she learned while growing up in the segregated south, and gave some helpful advice.

My favorite advice she gave began with her story of how she discovered her major in international politics. She actually began as a music major at Colorado State and realized that she didn't really want to teach piano for the rest of her life. She said she took the time to find her passion. She said it wasn't very fun, but it was worth it. She stated,"When you find your passion,worlds open up to you may have never discovered."

Family!

2011-01-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

The most important part of my life is my family. I would do anything for my family. At the beginning of the year I decided that I wanted and needed to do more family history. I want to find my ancestors, learn more about them, and gather as much information as possible on them.

A couple years ago, Kylie and I made a family history blog. You can click the link at the side of this blog. We had started gathering some information, but haven't looked at it for a while. Today I found myself with some extra time and found two comments on that blog that I had never seen. We figured no one ever looked at it. There was a very heartfelt comment from my favorite Aunt Loretta and another one from a lady that we do not know, but who came across our blog and complimented us on it.

My family history is not just important to me, but it is important to a lot of others as well. I love all my family and I want to put this together for them and any others that might come across it. I write this so I can be accountable to my family to get this work done. Any pictures, stories, certificates, or anything else that anyone has that would be helpful to include would be greatly appreciated if you could send it my way. This will be a great adventure!

Blessings

2011-01-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

Some days I pinch myself to see if I really am this lucky.
She is something else!

New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

2011-01-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

I am excited for a new year. I am excited to grow. I look forward to new challenges. There are mountains to climb and I am ready for them.

My favorite quote from 2010 - "We become what we want to be by consistenly being what we want to become each day." -Richard G. Scott

I am grateful to all those people who are so good to me and hope that I can do good for them as well.

Happy 2011!!!

Simply the best

2010-12-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

I may say this ever year, but I really mean it when I say that this Christmas was simply the best! I think this year was so special because we spent so much time with family and friends.

We met our friends the Jenkins when we moved to Provo. Before we left for Idaho we took their family pictures so that they could give them as Christmas gifts. Aren't they so cute? We love, love, love, LOVE the Jenkins. They have been such a blessing in our life.We took their pictures at Wymount and Michael was able to catch a couple of good pics where ALL the boys were smiling. Michael also made a deal with the boys that if they smiled big for a couple of pictures that he would ride the sled with them...Brrr! I gotta admit, I was not brave enough to volunteer!
The day before Christmas Eve so...on the Eve of Christmas Eve :) we went to the Twin Falls temple with our family. It's so beautiful there, it actually reminds us a lot of the Rexburg temple. Anyways, we loved going to the temple, especially with our family, and it was a nice way to try to focus on the true spirit of Christmas!I also just had to include this picture of our nieces and nephews. Aren't they darling? They were all so excited that Santa came!Okay so last but not least I wanted to post my favorite Christmas present I got this year. Michael made us a Date Calender! I was so surprised!Michael found cool things to do around Utah and also included things that he knows I love to do as well as things I've always wanted to do. Every month he made a list of dates we are going to go on including going to a different temple every month! I LOVE having fun, going to new temples, and trying new things!!! We will be going to musicals, having a karaoke night, getting Samba dance lessons, going golfing, roller skating, trying new restaurants, backpacking, and so much more!!! Thanks Michael, you're simply the best :)

Why I love Christmas!

2010-12-13T21:16:00.001-08:00

Michael and I recently attended an amazingly, crazy, awesome, fun Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. We found our snazzy apparel at the local DI. I found my sweater in the boys section with a big merry looking Santa on the front and we found Michael a lime green collared sweater - we were quite the pair!

As much as I enjoyed shopping for our sweaters the thing I love most about Christmas is the people I get to spend it with. We have been so blessed with wonderful friends, neighbors, and family. Recognizing the people in our lives really helps us to recognize the spirit of Christmas. I'm grateful I get to celebrate the birth of the Savior with the people I love most!

Great Advice!

2010-12-09T11:46:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of the Fall 2010 semester! I made it through 1/5 of the Master's program! Classes are done and finals are all next week. I was in the computer lab today and read this quote on the back of some guy's shirt...I literally laughed out loud!

"8 out of 5 dentists say that it is a bajillion times more effective to study in the library than in the shower"

Wow...I decided that I'm going to try and follow this AMAZING advice as I study for my finals. You should too :)

People we love!!!

2010-11-21T06:50:00.001-08:00

Michael and I are so blessed to have wonderful friends and family! Recently we were able to hangout with some friends we met in Rexburg here in Utah and have a little reunion. It was so awesome! We had the little shindig at the Backman’s and were able to see the Olavason’s and the Wood’s! It was a blast catching up! It’s amazing to see how fast everyone’s kids are growing up and what exciting things people are doing. We love you guys!

Next, I want to make a little shout out for my dear friend Rebecca. I met her in the MSW program and have really lucked out to find such a wonderful friend! Rebecca is truly one of the most incredible people I have ever met. She went on a mission to Spain, lived in Italy, and is one tough cookie! She speaks 3 different languages and already has incredible experience in the field of social work. Rebecca is a genius and is my designated study buddy (hallelujah!) Love you Rebecca!

Last but not least, my Mom and Dad. When people ask my Dad what he does for a living he loves telling them “I put bad guys in jail!” Although to many my dad is exceptionally intimidating on the outside, we know he is totally a softie on the inside. My dad loves Michael and me and we are grateful for his love and support. Along with loving his family my dad also loves BYU football! My mom and dad came all the way to Provo to hangout and go to a game!

I also have been blessed with an awesome mom. She surprised Michael this weekend by making and bringing him his favorite…pumpkin roll! Not only is my mom an amazing cook but she is totally service oriented and spent a good chunk of her “fun” weekend going fabric shopping and teaching me how to make curtains and cute pillows. Love you guys!

A Spot in my Heart for BYU

2010-11-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

Whether I get into BYU or not, I have found a spot in my heart for BYU. There is something you find in Provo that can't be found in other places. I'm not saying it is perfect here, because there are plenty of things that I would say that can use some work.

Show me a more beautiful campus with new and kept up facilities. Or where will you find a campus with such towering mountains? The grounds are beautiful. It is a very clean campus.
It is nice to see football improving. There is nothing like packing 60,000+ fans in a stadium whether they are having a great year or not. We also went to the opening basketball game versus Fresno State. The Marriott Center was full of 23,000 cheering fans all dressed in white shirts. At these sporting events there is no alcohol. No swearing. People are dressed appropriately. What a great place to be with a family. There are kids everywhere and are involved in the fun entertainment.
I am grateful for Kylie's opportunity to attend this school. Where the road will lead from here, who knows. But the experiences we are having here we will never forget.

What a wonderful world!

2010-11-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

Another blessing that has come with the recent move to Provo is the opportunity we have to experience fall. In Rexburg it seemed that it would be summer one day and then winter the next. I recently talked to a friend in Rexburg who said she is already freezing!

We are loving fall! The colors are so vibrant and beautiful. Michael and I recently took some time to go for a walk and enjoy this beautiful time of year and God’s wonderful creations! We hope you enjoy our photoshoot and take some time to take in this great time of year!

Hockey

2010-10-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

Kylie and I went to a BYU hockey game. This is where the Salt Lake City Olympic Hockey took place. We had a lot of fun cheering for the team and watching some good hits!

Mount Timpanogos Temple

2010-10-31T09:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend Kylie and I decided to attend a temple that we have not been to together. This is the Mount Timpanogos temple. The photo is beautiful, but this temple is so much more beautiful in person, inside and out. I know we probably aren't supposed to have favorite temples, but we were both in awe of the beauty and uniqueness of this temple.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T08:54:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween! Every year it has been tradition that we paint pumpkins with our friends the Mayor's. We missed our friends this year as they are now in Oregon and we are in Utah. Our ward had a pumpkin carving contest so we decided to try carving this year. We are pretty excited about how our pumpkin turned out. It is a BYU jack-o-lantern.

This year I am proud to say that I came up with the idea for our Halloween costumes. Just in case you can't tell, I was a frog completely dressed in green with homemade eyes, mouth, and tongue. Kylie was my princess. She looked great in her dress and homemade crown.
This Halloween we attended our ward party, participated in some games including a doughnut eating contest which we lost, and also carried on our tradition of going out to eat. This year we had Gloria's Little Italy. Now it is time for the Christmas tree.

True blue through and through

2010-10-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

So on Saturday it not only rained - but poured. Ironically Saturday was also a BYU game day against Wyoming. We had figured that we had better dress a little warmer than usual but as we stepped outside the door to walk to the game (which is just a few blocks away) we looked at the rain, stopped, and then looked at each other with the inquisitive looks on our faces "Is it worth it?" Well, it took neither prodding nor persuading, we shut the door and ran through the rain to the game!

Was it worth it? By the time we got the game we were completely soaked...I was freezing! It was windy! But as soon as the cougars scored a touchdown in the first quarter and then the second and then went on to win the game, I must say I think Michael and I have proven ourselves true blue, through and through!

DI Adventures

2010-10-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again - pumpkins, candy, and last but not least costumes. It's become a tradition of ours to celebrate Halloween by dressing up and eating out - dressing up being my favorite part and eating out being Michael's :)

Year 1 - Mr. Scarecrow and Ms. South KoreaYear 2 - Celebrating old school style!Year 3 - Fisherman, fish, and our friendly-looking friends the Sherman's! (we miss you guys!)

We have grown to love the DI and this year we decided to scope it out and couldn't believe some of the fun Halloween costumes we found!

My favorite is Michael's elephant hat! Isn't it awesome? We ended up not finding anything we really wanted but enjoyed the fun trip anyway!

My Backyard

2010-10-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

I love my backyard!

During the day I can see the colorful flowers, well kept grounds, and see smiling people everywhere. During the night walks with my sweetheart my backyard stands out more than anything else in Provo. The lights are bright and emphasize the beauty that radiates from the cleanliness and purity that can be seen.

In my backyard, I can feel a perfect and exquisite peace that can only be felt in backyards that are similar. In a world of chaos and heartache, there is no better feeling than what I feel in my backyard and it is offered to anyone who desires it. President Thomas S. Monson said, "How far is heaven? I testify that in the holy temples it is not far at all-for it is in these sacred places that heaven and earth meet and our Heavenly Father gives His children His greatest blessings."

I have heaven in my backyard.

I love my backyard!

My Sister Jeanna

2010-10-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a few minutes to write about my lil sister. I think of her as the baby, yet she is celebrating her 15^th birthday on Saturday– HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We’ll party a little more when we come home to see Kyle.

Before I left for my mission, Jeanna and I had a special handshake. It took us a while to master it and we thought we were pretty cool when we did it. I remember on my mission receiving letters from Jeanna, craft projects she made in school, and pictures. They always made my day.

For the most part, sports were not an interest of all my siblings down until Jeanna came around. I’m excited to have a sibling to shoot some hoops with, watch a game with, or watch her play. I’m not sure where she learned it from, but her competitive spirit is through the roof and her trash talking is humorous.

I appreciate the sweet girl Jeanna is. Yes, she might try to hide her sweetness. Yes, she might be going through the dreaded teenage attitude years. I know Jeanna is a special daughter of God. She has a testimony of and understands the important things in life. I love my sister and appreciate all she does for me. The girls-Bri, Kylie, and Jeanna. What a lucky guy.

BYU Football

2010-10-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

So the season isn't going as planned. So we bought tickets for a year in which they haven't played this bad for four decades (up to this point). At least we are having some fun!
This is our view every home game! I really don't think there is a bad view in the house. Nothing like being in the midst of 60,000+ cheering fans. The wholesome family environment for a sporting event is awesome.

This is my die hard cougar fan. She sings, "Rise and shout the cougars are out..." better than anyone. Kylie does the singing while I try to keep the referees in line. We've had a lot of fun this year thus far despite our losing record. Even though losing is difficult, at least Boise State is rocking everyone's world! Your time is coming Aggie fans.

If Friends were Flowers...

2010-10-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

If friends were flowers I'd pick these two ladies - Jessica and Stephanie! Last weekend I had the opportunity to hangout with some good ol' amigos from Burley, ID! It was so good seeing them! We talked and laughed the whole night! Stephanie just returned home from her mission in Norway and is going to BYU and Jessica is student teaching in the Salt Lake area and will graduate this December from BYU-Idaho. I am so grateful for the special people the Lord has placed in my life!

Our Mountain Bike Trip

2010-09-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just get an itch to get out of the city and get some fresh air - no books, buildings, traffic, or people. After a long week of school and work, Michael and I decided to head for the hills and go for a refreshing mountain bike ride just south of Provo near Price, Utah. The leaves are already changing colors. The bike trail was next to a stream and the view was absolutely beautiful. A little distracting actually, we had to be careful to not get too caught up in the scenery and keep our eyes on the trail. At the end of the trail were natural hot springs and pools. It was nice to spend the weekend Idaho-style in the great outdoors! and it got us rejuvenated for another week!

Happy Birthday Kylie!!!

2010-09-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

It's that time of year!!!

2010-09-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

I love college football! I am more excited about this year than any other year. Why…2 reasons.

Reason 1: I grew up in the treasure valley. I had season tickets for Boise State football. They were end zone seats. They were good, but they weren’t receiving the national attention that they are now. I’m a big sports fan and it is nice to have someone to root for from Idaho. With no professional sports, I’ve always rooted for those outside of my state: the Seattle Mariners, the Denver Broncos, etc. Boise is continuing to try and prove that it is a legitimate program and this year they will have a few more opportunities. I love BSU football. Go Broncos!

Reason 2: I’m now living in Provo, Utah. I have season tickets for BYU football. I love the campus here. My wife attends school at BYU. I really want to go to school here. I am now a BYU fan. I’m excited for the season. I’m excited that BYU has gone independent and I look forward to the big games that are coming. My wife will admit that I have been gabbing a lot in regards to the possibilities with BYU football. I am stoked for my first BYU game tomorrow versus Washington. Go Cougars!

The dreaded day lies ahead. I know this year it is ok for me to be a Bronco and a Cougar fan. The time will soon come when my two teams will face each other. Today, I am stumped. I do not know what I would do. The only solution I can come to is to where black and remain completely emotionless the entire game or not watch at all.

Until then, go Broncos and go Cougars!!!

Time to Ketchup!

2010-09-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when life gets busy and a blogger gets behind on their blog, all there is to do is KETCH - UP!

So Michael's little brother, not so little anymore, got married last weekend in the Boise temple. It was a beautiful experience shared with family and friends. We are excited to welcome Colby into the family and are so happy for 2 lovebirds and wish them the best! My good friend Kimmy Yost finally came home from her mission from the St. George Utah Visitor Center. It was so good seeing her after what seemed like such a long time. I love returned missionaries and their special glow! We met in Salt Lake, went to a session in the temple and spent some time on temple square. It would make me so happy when people would mistake us for sister missionaries!I love Kimmy! She is the most genuine, good-hearted person I have ever known. She has been such a good friend and I am so grateful for her. Welcome Home Kim!!!Last, but not least I survived my first week of Grad School. I told Michael that 1 day feels like 10 days because so much seems to happen in a single day that I can't even remember everything that happened! The work load is intense, I have homework that I need to finish for every class before next week. It is very competitive.People here are very serious about school and their grades. The professors are so hardcore, a lot of them have their PhD's or Law degree and are involved in conducting research all over the world. Although it is very intense, I love it. I can feel myself being stretched and I know that with prayer, faith, and hard work - this will be a wonderful experience!

Amanda

2010-08-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

I’ve decided to take a little time every once in a while to say a few things about individual people I love and appreciate.

Today I want to say a few things about my sister Amanda Taylor. Amanda has always been so kind to me. She goes out of her way to ask how things are going. She welcomed me into the family right away and since has treated me as a brother. I feel like I am similar to Amanda in a lot of ways since she also plays the part of oldest sibling.

I catch myself all the time saying things that I got from Amanda. When I want a big hug from Kylie I will say, “Two arms tight” which is what Amanda says to her boy Nathan when she wants a big hug. I call the store Target, Tarshjee’-which is a funny French like ascent way that Amanda gives a fancy name to the store.

I love Amanda for how much she sacrifices for her family. She gives her life to her husband and her two boys. She keeps their home clean, cooks amazing meals, and takes great care of her family. She makes sure everyone is taken care of before she thinks about herself. On top of everything else, Amanda looks for ways to bring in some extra income for their family.

Her biscuits and gravy are my favorite even though everything else she cooks tastes fabulous and when we were in Rexburg she had us over often. I love seeing her smiling, laughing, and being silly. She is a great wife and mother and I know she would do anything for her family.

I know that Amanda would also do anything for me. I know she cares. I appreciate her love. What a blessing it is to have my family doubled due to marriage. I love Amanda and am grateful to have her as my sister.

Bair Testimony

2010-08-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Recently my wife told me a story a friend shared with her. It was about a girl who kept an online public journal of life experiences and events that took place in her life. The thoughts she wrote down were simple, but special to her. After some time, this girl received a short message from someone she did not know. It simply said that the person had accidently came across what the girl had been writing. It was very inspiring to this person and it was something that was read regularly. It changed this person’s life. The message to the girl, “Thank you.”

I am grateful for the efforts my wife is making to share her pearls, those things that are so precious to her with all willing to listen. Please take a minute to read a thought or two of hers. I know that it will touch any heart that might be looking for needed comfort, peace, or merely add a ray of light to your day. Any comments you leave would also be encouraging for Kylie and any others that might come across these thoughts.

http://bairtestimony.blogspot.com/ is the link or you can always find the blog on the side of our family blog.

The Number 3

2010-08-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

When I was a child I loved riding my tricycle, my 3 wheeled bike.

When I have ice cream, 3 scoops is perfect.

I love it when I get 3 strikes in a row bowling, a turkey.

It is also nice that I had 3 chances to swing the bat before I struck out.

The movie The 3 Amigos is hilarious.

The 3 Bourne movies are 3 of my favorites.

Today there is another reason why I love the number 3, my sweetheart Kylie.

Just 3 years ago on 24 August 2007 we were sealed for eternity.

I will pinch myself at least 3 times today to see if this is really just a dream, but will find out that I really am just that lucky!

Home Sweet Home

2010-08-22T19:21:00.001-07:00

It was bitter sweet moving from Rexburg. We love Rexburg. We love the people there. We love BYU-Idaho. It was exciting to think about changing surroundings and starting new adventures but as we pulled out of Rexburg with all of our belongings packed and shoved into our car and U-haul, it felt like we were leaving not just a place, but our home, a home that we truly loved.

We have been living in Provo for about a month now. Everything is unpacked, we've found jobs, and school will be starting soon. We love our new ward and are starting to make great friends. I've finally stopped feeling that empty, homesick feeling in my heart and am beginning to love Provo.

My mom gave us some great advice, "Bloom where you're planted." We've taken that advice and are really starting to feel at home.

Good Morning Bambi!!!

2010-08-18T09:15:00.001-07:00

I woke up, packed Michael's lunch, had some breakfast, and walked back to the bedroom. I decided to shed some light on the situation and pulled the blinds up. Much to my surprise, there were deer outside the window!! It was so crazy! They were looking at me and I was looking at them, we both seemed freaked out! I carefully snuck out of the room and grabbed the camera. The flash scared them off but I'm hoping to see them again. Maybe I can train them and make them into pets... :) haha!
After they ran off I thought to myself, "They are so lucky Michael's cousins weren't here or they would've been dead meat..." Literally!!

Thanksgiving Point

2010-08-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

The unemployed and the future grad student have been trying to live it up before responsibility comes. Today's adventure...Thanksgiving Point. We started by touring the gardens which was ok. They were nice, but nothing compared to temple grounds.

Our next stop was by the water tower. It was 98 degrees outside so we made a stop for ice cream. Kylie said that she wanted the biggest cone they had and as we sat in line waiting we saw a kid eating an ice cream cone that looked as big as his head. He saw us pointing to his cone in amazement. Then we came across this sign...

We decided we wanted Tower Cones. The picture is not an exaggeration. We each got a tower twist cone. As I was paying for the cones (which was a great price for so much ice cream) Kylie called my name and I looked at her face to see what she needed. Then I looked down and her ice cream had tipped off the cone onto her chest!

Unfortunately I didn't get the picture of the ice cream sitting on Kylie, but she did get it plopped back onto the cone and I did get a picture to give everyone an idea of the size.

This will be one of those moments I do not forget!!! We walked out and the boy we saw before came up to us again and asked Kylie if she was able to finish the cone. She said no and that it had fallen on her. He said no and that it had fallen on his baby brother. And for the record, I ate my tower, and almost half of Kylie's!

Like a kid in a candy store!

2010-08-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

One of the things that excited Michael the most about moving to Provo was the fact that a huge Cabela's was very close. After unpacking, organizing, and job hunting we decided to to take a break a visit Michael's dream store. The best way I could describe Michael's reaction on the drive to and upon entering the store is like a kid in a candy store! He was so excited! and I gotta admit, the place was pretty sweet. There were aquariums full of a wide variety of fish, animals (dead and stuffed) all over the place, and all sorts of outdoor equipment. There was a restaurant on the second floor and after spending several hours at the store we were both getting pretty hungry. Michael and I tried our first elk burgers. They looked like a normal burger but we ended up not finishing them because of the weird texture but I guess it just added to the whole Cabela's experience! I have a feeling that this was the first of many trips we will be making to Cabela's!

From Rexburg to Provo

2010-08-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

We made the move, Rexburg to Provo. Simply stated it was and has been bitter sweet. We love and miss our ward, bishop, neighbors, friends, and family in Rexburg. We miss the fun places we would go to, campus, and the people. We are excited for this new place, new bike trails, new restaurants, new people to meet, and the new challenges that life brings.

We want to thank our family and friends for helping us in our move from Rexburg to Provo. We recognize that God has placed special people in our lives that have been great blessings to us.

We are now moved in. We are preparing for school and looking for work. We again thank everyone for all that they have done and continue to do for us.

Our Kentucky Nephews

2010-08-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

This summer Liam and Raevan came to visit from Kentucky. They stayed with Grandpa and Grandma in Burley for about six weeks. It had been a couple years since the last time they came. We were really excited to spend a lot of time with them. We love them both a lot and already miss them.
They came and spent a weekend with us in Rexburg before we left. We went fishing, boating in our little blow up boat, we made delicious pizza, went to a drive in movie, and to church. We love our nephews and we are excited for when they decide to come and visit us again.

Congrats Graduates!!!

2010-07-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

After several years of hard work and dedication, my Michael graduated from BYU-Idaho! I am so proud of him. He received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology. When he received his diploma he was able to shake President Clark's and Elder Hinckley's hand!Michael and his brother Eric graduated together and are the first college graduates from their family. It was such a special weekend celebrated with family and friends!

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T14:41:00.001-07:00

Happy Independence Day!!! Kylie and I have spent several July 4th's together now in Caldwell, Burley, and Rexburg. This year we decided we needed to have the Idaho Falls experience. We've heard great things about the Idaho Falls fireworks and we were invited by our family to come and experience the fun with them.

Here is part of the line up of the Bair's and Becksted's. We are waiting in anticipation of the big show and enjoying each others company. After taking this shot my Uncle Mike informed me that my smile was very cheesy. What can you do though, Kylie looks great!My Uncle Lloyd decided to lay down for a second and Kylie thought it would be the perfect picture moment, especially since earlier he had asked why our blog hadn't been updated for a while. She caught the perfect picture as Mike quickly leaned onto the arm of Uncle Lloyd. What a cute pair. Kylie was inspired later during the fireworks and leaned over to me to tell me the perfect caption she had thought of for this picture: A picture is worth a thousand words!

Barrus Reunion

2010-07-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

Michael had the opportunity of experiencing a good ol' Barrus shindig for the first time this weekend. Michael experienced his first Barrus Reunion auction, talent show, and heard some campfire songs that include "toad suckers" and other unfamiliar things! After my Aunt Karlee gave him a big hug and kiss on the cheek she said, "You're probably not used to getting kisses from this many old women!" We had a great time and love being around family!
I love my cousin Stephanie! I spent many Spring Break's with her at the coast, reunion's hanging out, and have had many good times and special memories with her! Although we're both married now and are growing up, some things are still funny and never change!We had the reunion in Ophir, Utah which is located near some family history. My great great Grandma lived in the remnants of this...hut. It was very cool to see what my ancestors have experienced and learn more about my family history.

Camping with the Biehl's!

2010-07-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

We had a blast last weekend camping with our good friends Tim and Jessica Biehl! We loaded up the car on Friday and headed for East Harriman, located near Island Park. It was quite the adventure and so much fun!We found a perfect spot and camped near a beautiful lake. After we set up camp we were pretty hungry and had tin foil dinners and smores the first night! There's nothing like camping food! mmm... Michael and I also busted out our new little blow up boat. It's supposed to be a 2 man boat and hold up to 350 pds. When we bought it had a picture of 2 small children in the boat on the front of the box. We realized then that it was probably going to be a bit on the smaller side but figured it would still be fun! As you can see, one person can fit in it comfortably.Tim was brave enough to try it first. If I were to describe this boat I definitely would not use the word sturdy. Tim literally hopped in the boat and water started filling into the boat! Tim's pants got soaked! He quickly hopped out. After learning from Tim's experience Michael and I tried getting into it, trying to be a little more graceful and it worked! As you can tell, it's a tight squeeze but still a lot of fun!The weather overall was beautiful, except for the thunderstorm and lightning and rain that occurred when it was just about time to get some sleep. The lightning literally lit up the tent and the rain poured down. Luckily, our tent held up and we woke up dry! After breakfast and warming up around the fire we tried our luck catching some fish! We all caught a few but only ended up keeping one which is still in our freezer. Michael and I aren't the biggest fish fans and are excited to give it to Stan to eat!

I love to see the temple

2010-07-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Michael and I have been so very blessed to live in Rexburg and attend BYU-Idaho. One of our favorite things about this area is the beautiful Rexburg temple.It was built on a hill so that even when you're miles away you can see it shining on the hill. We are so grateful to live so close to the temple and attend it often! It has been a great blessing in our lives.

Congrats Kelso!!!

2010-07-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Our sister Kelsey just graduated from Eastern Washington University with her Masters degree in Social Work! We are so proud of her and are grateful for her example! We spent a weekend in June driving up to Washington with family and having some fun in Spokane and Cheney Washington and then after the graduation we went to Coeur d'Alene (in northern Idaho) and played at the beach! It was nice taking a little vacation and celebrating this special time with her! Way to go Kelso, we love you!
P.S. This picture is not from the graduation! My mom has all the pictures on her camera so this is just a random picture I had of Kelsey and my Dad :)

Rise and Shout the Cougars are Out!

2010-05-19T17:49:00.001-07:00

Those are the beginning words of the BYU fight song. I grew up hearing those words sung by my mom and dad. I remember visiting the campus for various occasions and to visit my siblings and thinking to myself, "there's no way I'd ever want to go to school here." Well, obviously it wasn't love at first sight but after Michael and I's recent trip to Provo I must say, GO COUGARS!

Michael and I took a trip last weekend to Provo to check out the campus, look for housing, and to scope out some jobs. Traveling from little ol' Rexburg and arriving in Provo was quite the eye-opening experience. It seemed so massive and so much traffic! It really was a great experience though. I got to meet some of my professors and tour campus. I think Michael's favorite part was the stadium. We are really looking forward to attending some football and basketball games! We are still haven't quite decided on housing and jobs, but we sure are excited for the great adventure that lies ahead of us in Provo!!

I am in Love

2010-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes during the day I just have to stop and pinch myself to see if I am dreaming.There are so many things that I love about Kylie. Some things she does though, I can't help but smile from ear to ear...

-Sometimes when Kylie comes home from work, she walks in the door, drops her bag, puts a finger up at each side of her head and moves her feet back and forth as if she were a bull. Then she comes rushing at me and jumps into my arms!

-It could be the middle of the day as we are going down our list of things to do. Kylie will turn on the music and we will have a dance off. We don't have to go into the details of how comical it would be to see a tall, lanky, white boy dance. She dances, sings, and helps me to find joy in life.

-If it has been a good day or bad, rain or shine, when I am with Kylie it doesn't matter. With Kylie, I get this feeling inside that I have not experienced with anyone or anything else. Compare it to walking on clouds, flying, and butterflies.

I thank God everyday for my sweetheart. How did I get so lucky!

Our Boys

2010-05-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

Although we do not have the privilege of being parents yet, we still have the opportunity to watch and love "our boys" aka our nephews Nathan and Eli! My sister and her husband Derik recently celebrated their 10th anniversary - wahoo! which meant that we had the opportunity to watch the boys. We LOVE babysitting them. They are absolutely precious! and so fun. Nathan is 3 and Eli is 10 months old. We are grateful for Amanda and Derik and for letting us take care of their kids!

Not Quite Pavlov

2010-05-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

Michael in his final semester at
BYU-Idaho is taking a Principles of Learning psychology class where he has the opportunity to train various animals through classical conditioning, made famous from Pavlov and his experiement conditioning his dog. Michael first worked with a baby chic which was pretty cute. He would train it to do certain behaviors in order to get food.

Michael is now working with a rat which kinda grosses me out a little, but thank goodness for soap and hand sanitizer! Michael is currently in the process of training his rat to go through the maze. As you might be able to notice, his rat has a problem with cheating and going strait from the start and hopping over the wall to the end instead of going through the maze! Wish him luck with his new furry friend!

My Heart and Mind

2010-05-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to take a minute and share what I know is truth with friends, family, and others curious.

I know that there is a God. He is real and is very involved in our lives whether we recognize it or not.

I know that God loves us all and sent His son, Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the world. Christ makes it possible for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven again someday, along with our families. This is part of His plan. Through Jesus Christ and only through Christ we are cleansed, comforted, and renewed.

God answers prayers. He speaks to us through family, friends, or those we might call strangers, all of who could also be called angels sent to help us from God.

He speaks to us through prophets of old who have recorded their words which we today call scripture. He speaks to us through living prophets today. He still cares and wants us to be guided in a world of chaos and difficulty.

The Book of Mormon can help anyone know that there is a God and gives all an opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Him.

It is essential that we follow His commandments. That is where true happiness is found.

I have many weaknesses. I frequently fall and make mistakes. I can say that I have always gotten back up. God is my strength and through Him I know that I can do all things.

I know these things to be true. They have changed my life and I know such beliefs can bring joy and happiness to anyone.

Michael Bair

First Fishing Trip of the Year!!!

2010-04-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

With the snow finally melting and the sun finally coming out, we decided it was time to pull out the fishing poles and catch us some fish! Eric, Michael, and I loaded up in Eric's truck and headed for a local fishing spot just outside of Rexburg.My Dad says that there is "fishing" and that there is also "catching". Fishing includes having good snacks, enjoying the scenery, throwing your line in the water, and having a good time! Catching is when you get lucky enough and actually catch something!

Eric caught the first and only fish. Michael and I ended up just "fishing" and not "catching" which was fine. It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun!

Spotlight of the Week: Brianna

2010-03-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

Brianna is Michael's little sister. She just turned 17 this week and we were able to go to Caldwell to celebrate her and Stan's birthday's. Just some fun facts about Brianna: She is in eleventh grade, her favorite class "surprisingly" (quote unquote) is Seminary. She has her driver's permit, but isn't gung-ho about driving. She is an extremely talented artist and is taking several art classes. She loves reading and has read more books than Michael and I will probably ever read in a lifetime. If we were to describe Brianna in 5 words they would be: creative, spunky, artistic, kind, and unique! We love you Brianna!

Graduate School: BYU

2010-03-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

For at least a year now, Kylie and I have wondered where we will end up for graduate school. This week we made our decision: BYU. Both of us applied to several different schools. While Kylie works to receive her master's of social work at BYU, I'll have the opportunity to get some more experience working in the field of psychology in preparation to reapply next year. We love Rexburg and the experiences we've had at BYU-Idaho. We are excited for the experiences that lie ahead of us. We're grateful for the support that we've received from family and friends through this process.

Let the Madness Begin

2010-03-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

The intensity, the rivalries, the sweat and tears! We LOVE March Madness! You never know what to expect! It's like an athletic survival of the fittest with unsuspecting twists and turns where the underdog gets lucky and wins sometimes! Michael and I have been enjoying the last several days glued to ESPN and trying to watch any games we can. We also have a lovely tradition of filling out brackets. Michael has created a special way of tracking the games and keeping points. The one with the most accurate bracket and most points wins! This year I am rooting for DUKE while Michael is cheering for LOUISVILLE! May the best team win!!!