Graduation, New Jobs, Elder Lindley's Skype Call, First Few Steps

There are so many things to mention about this week, I can’t decide where to start! The most exciting news of the week is that I officially graduated from Idaho State with my B.B.A. of Accounting. On Friday, we had the College of Business graduation ceremony.  It was really neat. It was a more personal graduation where I got to be with the kids I had class with and be congratulated by the professors I had class with. Kason played with Kylen & Kamrie during the ceremony and then came for the reception part and met my professors and classmates.  On Saturday morning, I had my ISU formal graduation ceremony.  It was held in the Holt Arena.  My parents and Kolt and Kason were there.  It was great to walk and receive my diploma, although it was quite long! After graduation, Kason went home with Grandma & Grandpa, so Kolt and I could go on a date. We went to Winger’s and then went to a movie. I’m not sure I can remember the last time we went on a date by ourselves. It was so nice! Thank you!! We are a pretty happy family right now! I have a big list of all the things I’ve wanted to do once school was over.  At the top of the list is being with my baby of course! Second to that is to learn photography! Kolt and Kason are getting me a new camera for my graduation gift! I’m so excited to learn how to take pictures of Kason.

The next best news of the week is that Kolt and I both got new jobs! Kolt got a job at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in the Behavioral Health Department as a Psychiatric Technician.  He has been spending a lot of time this week getting ready to start. He is anxious to get a lot of hours in the next month, so we can turn in PA applications. I am starting a new position at the Post Register as the Credit Manager.  I will also do the Accounts Payable position as well, so it will be an increase in hours.  The great news is that my mom is going to help share the office hours part with me, so I can still be home with Kason for most of the day.  The rest of the work I will do from home.  I’m so grateful that she offered to help me do this.  Kolt and I are feeling pretty lucky to have good jobs that allow us to be good parents. 

The next most exciting news is that we got to talk to Elder Lindley on Mother’s Day.  He called at 7:15 in the morning! Kason still needs to work on his skyping skills, but it was great to see Tyler and have Kason hear his uncle.  We miss him a lot, but know he is where he should be! I’m so grateful he is serving the Italian people. 

The rest of this week was spent taking our last finals and turning in our last projects.  Thank you Grandma Lindley for helping with Kason during all of this.  On Tuesday evening, Kason and I went out to watch Kolt, Rope & Brand play basketball at the church.  Kason is definitely getting a regular night schedule and gets tired around 8 every night, so we had to bring Dad home early.  On Tuesday evening, I also went over to volleyball to watch the freshman girls practice and get to know the players I am getting next year.

On Monday Kason got his 10-month pictures done and also took some Spring pictures with Paisley.  Kason had about a good 30 minutes of smiles and was totally out by the time Paisley got there.  They still turned out pretty darn cute though!

On Saturday evening, Grandma & Grandpa Piquet took us out for a graduation dinner party at Sandpiper! It was super yummy! We had a great time visiting! We even got to see one of Kason’s nurses from the NICU that we loved!

On Sunday, we had a nice block of meetings.  I played the organ, and Kolt taught a good Sunday school lesson about reverence. We have a really good class who engages in discussion and wants to learn.  Kason was a good boy in Relief Society and loves playing all over the front of the room.  After our ward, we went to Bart Steltzer’s Homecoming Report in the singles ward in Ucon.  It was a good meeting, and Bart did a good job.  It was fun to see lots of people I had been in the singles ward with a few years ago.  Sunday afternoon we had a yummy Mother’s Day dinner with the Lindley’s.  We gave Grandma Lindley a sparkly shirt for Mother’s Day.  Then we went out to Grandma Piquet’s to wish her Happy Mother’s Day.  Paisley and Kason made footprint Sunshine Canvases for her.  We had lasagna for dinner that hit the spot.  We are so grateful for our mothers.  Each and every day I’m more grateful for my own mother and the countless things she has done for me and still does for me.

Kason’s Updates: Kason is an active little 10-month old.He is learning more every day.  Kason took his first few steps this week.  He gets tired easy—no doubt from carrying all the weight! His record is 6 steps! He gets pretty excited when we start clapping and definitely knows he’s doing something cool! He loves to say “Ah-Ho” over and over. I’m sure it means something! He says it very carefully! He has learned how to undo the cabinet locks.  He is making us work hard to keep the cabinets stocked.  He loves food: anything and everything anyone is eating.  He is quite intrigued by Grandpa Lindley taking off his glasses.  He doesn’t really care for him taking them off, but acts like he recognizes him again as soon as he puts them on! Kason likes to give head butts.  I’m pretty sure it is him telling me he wants to go somewhere as he likes to do it when I am sitting down and holding him.  He also has thrown his first fits this week.  He will lay his head in the carpet and kick his legs, just crying and crying.  It is quite entertaining! He is getting such a growing personality!

I also forgot to mention last week that Kolt and I have officially been together for 6 years this spring.  Seems like just yesterday that we talked about getting married and having kids someday.  Since we started dating, we have graduated high school, Kolt served a mission, I played college volleyball, Kolt got home, we got married, we had Kason, and now I have graduated college.

Grandma P's Birthday!!

Kason is officially 10 months old! It is hard to believe he will be a year in a few short months.  Kason is getting quite a personality.  He loves to play with any sports ball. He learned how to pass back and forth this week.  Kolt is pretty good about teaching him.  He really loves his Primary songs.  He sleeps with them playing in his room every night.  He is guaranteed to wake up if I don’t put it on repeat through the night.  He loves both his grandmas a whole lot.  He is quite intrigued by animals. He sits by the window and talks to the cat all day. He is sure fun to be around.  He found a cute new smile this week that scrunches up his nose and shows his 2 teeth. It is sure cute.

Monday we ran errands all day long.  I made Chicken Stir Fry for dinner with Raman Noodles. It is one of my favorites now. Thank you, Natalie! In the evening, Kason and I went swimming in the hot tub. He loves sitting in the water.

Tuesday I watched Nathan and Brooke for a few hours.  Kason could play with those 2 all day and not need anything, unless they are eating of course.  We ran into work really quick for a few hours.  Kason and I played outside for a bit in the afternoon, and Kolt went to play basketball at the Milo church in the evening.

Wednesday was Grandma Piquet’s birthday! I ran into work in the morning and Kolt stayed with Kason.  We all met Kolt at lunch to have Finals Relief Lunch before his class.  After class, Kason and I walked around Freeman Park. Wow! That’s a long walk, but we made it and Kason loved every minute of it! We dropped off a gift to Cade High who got baptized this weekend on the way to Grandma Piquet’s birthday dinner. Grandpa P made delicious Fried Chicken and mashed potatoes for dinner. I made macaroni salad to go with it that turned out great! We had lemon meringue pie for dessert!  We got Grandma a gift card to Edwards for her birthday! I think she liked it! We also played volleyball on the grass after dinner! It was a blast! Kason sat in the stroller and watched us for a good long time. He got hit in the head pretty good and didn’t think it was too fun after that! 

Thursday Kason and I went into work. He would not take a morning nap, so it was a long day! Kason went out for Grandma’s day with Grandma Piquet in the evening. I took a practice test, wrote an internship report, and started my capstone presentation. It was very productive night! Kason had a great time with Grandma P!

Friday I went into work for a few hours while Kolt packed for Utah.  At noon, we left to fill in for another coach and coach her team in Utah.  It was a great weekend of volleyball. The girls were so cute. They were a 12U team and did awesome. We finished 2^nd in the silver bracket. I was so impressed. The girls were coachable and got lots better over the weekend I thought.  On Friday evening, we went swimming with Kylen and Kamrie at the hotel. Bryant and Kristi helped teach Kason to swim a little! Kason didn’t love sleeping at the hotel, so we woke up pretty worn out! On Saturday, Candace & Justin came to visit us. It was so great to see them! I was also really grateful for all the moms that helped with Kason. Kolt was trying to study for finals, so it was a big help! We got home at a pretty good time on Saturday night which was nice too!  We even stopped for dinner at Winger’s in Blackfoot, so we could hit the end of the OKC and Memphis game.

On Sunday, I played the organ and Kolt taught Sunday school. I also filled in Primary as the pianist.  Kason had a great time with Grandma & Grandpa L during Sunday school and took a nap on Grandpa.  We had dinner in the afternoon—I made cheesecake for dessert.  We spent the evening preparing for finals the next week.

10 MONTHS...yesterday! :)

-Around 23 pounds

-Still 2 teeth

-Loves to clap all the time

-Likes his big boy sippy cup with juice or water

-Size 4 diapers
-Passes a ball back and forth with you on the floor

-Still loves his binky....can't go anywhere without it!

-Cruises around everything and just started walking while holding on to a hand!

-Waves with both hands and a big smile!

-Favorite toys: Any sports ball 

-Total GOER--wants to see everything and rarely sits still!

-Loves going for walks in the stroller

-Totally prefers sleeping in his crib, but still wakes up often for a little love at nights!

-LOVES being outside....could be outside all day!

-Eats anything and everything---no one can eat in a room without Kason coming to get a bite of it first

-Loves his Grandmas

-Great boy in the car still!

-Thinning into a tall boy

-Jabbers all day long--trying out new syllables

-Says Mama, Dada, and Ball over and over all day long

 -Always falls asleep to Primary songs at night

-Shy boy...loves to snuggle with Mommy and play with her hair

I Touched Scotty McCreery!!

The highlight of this week was definitely the Scotty McCreery concert at BYU-I! Kolt, my mom and I went to the Scotty McCreery concert last night.  He put on such a good concert! We are still on a high, listening to his songs.  We knew some of them and then learned a lot more that we fell in love with! He did a good job of singing some of the old country songs and appreciating the classics.  The highlight of the night was when Scotty walked up our aisle, and I got to touch him!! We had a great night and enjoyed the music.

Kason is 1 week less than 10 months old! He has been trying to get over feeling sick.  He just get over pink eye and now has a cough and sore throat which makes him pretty whiny. He is quite a shy boy and takes some warming up still.He loves food, especially whatever anyone else is eating. He is quite the moocher. He likes bath time and taking naps with Mommy. He still loves being outside the most.  He loves going for walks in the evenings with Grandpa & Grandma Lindley. We are trying to get rid of the rain, so we can be outside more.  He could be outside for hours and never make a peep, just taking it all in!

During the first part of the week, I spent a couple days trying to get checks printed at work. Monday evening we let Kason destroy the rest of our Easter cake. He might’ve liked that a little too much! Tuesday evening, I had my last volleyball practice which was great! The girls did a good job, and we had a nice scrimmage at the end! We have spent lots of time this week finishing our last few papers and quizzes. On Wednesday evening, we had home teachers.  We are grateful for diligent home teachers who bring the Spirit every month.

Thursday I volunteered to watch a boy from our ward whose mom had surgery this week.  He is in preschool with Nathan, so I picked up both boys and brought them home for the afternoon.  They had a great time playing with each other. Their biggest concern was that Kason was ruining their race cars, so that was an easy fix for me. They were both good boys and were excited when Kolt got home to play with them.  On Thursday evening, Kason went out for Grandma’s Day at the Piquet’s.  I finished lots of homework and then went to my last Thursday night meeting. Kolt had his last lab in Pocatello.

On Friday, I went into work and Kolt took Kason to pick up envelopes at Artco.  I got my graduation announcements in the mail on Friday as well.  In the evening, we went to the ISU ASISU Awards Banquet at the school.  We had yummy steak for the meal. Kolt won the Outstanding Club Member of the Year Award. His clubs also won many awards as well.  He has been a big help to his clubs and is a very involved student on campus.  After the dinner, we went to ShayNiel Burch’s wedding reception. She looked beautiful! It was fun to visit with Kim Cooper, Danielle Bingham, Amy Miller, and other friends, including Kolt’s 1^st grade teacher. He talks about Mrs. Larsen all the time!

On Saturday I had my last 10 year old volleyball tournament at Taylor’s Crossing. Kolt came for part of it and left Kason with me to help with Chantal’s horse and get ice cream for the girls for a little bit in the afternoon.  The girls played good and have improved a lot over the season.  After the volleyball tournament, we got ready for the concert.  Kason stayed with Grandpa Lindley and Cousin Ashley.  

Today we woke up feeling pretty yucky, but we got it together to make it to Sacrament Meeting and Sunday school to teach and play the organ.  It was a nice meeting, and Kason was a good boy.

Kason's 1st Easter!!

Happy Easter yesterday! What a special day to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  How grateful we are for the Savior’s perfect atonement and the chance we have to repent and live again because of Him.  We had a wonderful day at church and evening at home with family, despite a few illnesses.  The Easter bunny made a visit to our home early in the morning with a book about Christ, and suit and tie for Kason, necklace for Mom, and tie for Dad, and a few treats for all.  We all matched for church.  It was a smooth day of playing the organ and teaching Sunday school.  I also said the opening prayer in Sacrament Meeting, which always makes me nervous!

Kason is 9 months and 3 weeks old this week! He is getting to be the waving expert. He waves lots more often now, including to himself in the mirror, people on the TV, coworkers at work and of course his parents and grandparents.  He has been a pretty happy boy the last week.  He has been fighting a runny nose and cough, but we got some miracle infant cough syrup that has just about solved it.  Kason is getting fast at going up the stairs, probably because he wants to see his Grandma and Grandpa Lindley.  He has been changing his nap schedule from 3 little naps to 1 or 2 longer ones.  That is an exciting time for his momma! Kason had a quick check up this week to test his iron levels.  He is over a point low, so we are trying to pack on the red meats as well as Vitamin C, which helps with the absorption of iron.  We are so grateful to have him in our lives.  

Kolt and I have spent lots of time wrapping up school work this week.  We have one more week, dead week, and then finals week.  Graduation is getting very real! I’m taking some of the last exams in my classes and finalizing final papers.  Kolt has also been doing very well in his classes.  He is in a tough semester and still manages to score 97% and 96% on his exams.  I’m grateful to have a hardworking husband!

On Tuesday and Thursday this week Paisley came to play.  We took her for a walk and let her swing for the first time! Kason and Paisley had lunch together in high chairs and watched 101 Dalmatians while we played for a long time! She is a fun girl to have around and quite a social butterfly! For dinner on Tuesday, I made Pasta and a delicious cold corn and tomatoes salad. 

On Thursday, Kason went to Grandma Piquet’s house while I had my class.  I did a little extra homework before my class which made for a productive night.  Kolt took Rope and Brand to play church ball. 

On Friday I went into work and Kolt worked on resumes for jobs. He is trying to find a phlebotomy job in Idaho Falls for the summer.  Hopefully, we will hear something soon.  In the evening, we went out to Shauna and Landon’s house to make an Easter craft and help with Paisley’s party.  We had yummy Chinese for dinner.

On Saturday, Kolt got up early to help with Gaylen Stucki’s branding. He roped on Kate and took JJ out as well.  I had volleyball in the afternoon, so Grandma Piquet watched Kason until Kolt got done.  Kason got to go for a horse ride with Grandpa Piquet! After my volleyball tournament, I met Kolt and Kason out at Aunt Karla’s Easter Party.  We love going to her party every year, but it was even more exciting taking Kason this year.  Kason liked playing with Tucker! We came home in time for the Lindley Family Easter Egg Hunt and BBQ.  Kason and Kylen had fun getting the eggs Grandma and Grandpa had laid out for them. Kason was all about the eggs.  He crawled around and touched all of them, but didn’t exactly get the basket part of it! It was fun for Kason to be with his cousins. All of the kids were excited to find the eggs.  After the Easter party, we went out for Paisley birthday party.  It was a fun party, and Paisley could definitely tell it was her party.