Enduring

So, lately I have been thinking a whole lot about enduring. As most of you know, Caleb has been out of work for 7 months. We are really lucky in the fact that he qualifies for unemployment. Cobra was too expensive, and so we haven't had health insurance for the last 7 months. It's been tough, because that means we pay in full all of our prescriptions. It puts a financial strain on us, and I wish I could change it. It's very likely we are just going to pick up our own policy, because we never know when this will happen again, and I really hate being without insurance. Also, my work is starting to slow down a little bit. It's harder now for me to make up the difference of what Caleb was making. Luckily we have eliminated a bunch of debt we had, 1,500 dollars worth of what we have anyway. We are both looking for work. I'm only in my salon for 3 days a week right now, because it cuts my expenses back about 200 dollars, to help make up the difference. If anyone hears of anything, part time or full time in Utah County, please please let us know.
Back to enduring. I know that I can endure a lot of things that I never thought I could by this point in my life. Medical problems and much more that I won't go into. I know that without Caleb and without the Savior, I'm not sure I could have endured things as well as I have, and I'm grateful for that every day. I also have a great support system in my family and friends.
Thank you all. We love you!

Memorial Day Weekend

So, over Memorial Day weekend, we went to good ole' Burley to visit Grandma and Grandpa Bell. Aunt Melba decided to come down and join us too! It was good to see her! It had been about 2 years since I had seen her, and it was great to get in some dumb luck and learn Dominoes, (which I am now addicted too! Thanks Melba!)

The real reason for the trip up there, was to get their sprinkler system finished. We did part of it last year. But there was still TONS to do! There was lots of help! Larry, Alan, David, Caleb, Skylar, Kerry, and Dad got it all done! YaY!

We had the most help from the lovely Ditch Witch run by Alan!

Grandpa couldn't help but to get off the porch and help no matter how much we tried to

convince him otherwise.


And here's the peanut gallery providing the food and drinks for the day!

Although we did have Larry take a time out from digging...


..and have him help out in the kitchen! Love the Apron!

Then on Sunday after church, we decided to go out to Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls. Rendi and Alan went around Mothers Day, and it was great, so we decided to go. Sadly the water was running low that day, but it was still really pretty!

The one drawback to the day was that it was freezing! The wind really picked up through that canyon, and we were all doing everything we could to stay warm!

*Note Larry's Hair! Proof of the wind!*

Larry and Louise also brought their new little baby Mollie on the trip! It was really nice to have her there, because it kept me from thinking of Jewel! She's a doll and it was great to puppy sit while they were busy helping out.

It really was a fun trip! We really need to get together more as a family, when we can just enjoy being together without all the extra work! :)

Hope to see you all soon, especially those who weren't there!

Digging the Trench

So yesterday, Caleb and I spent most of the day helping Dad dig a trench so that they were hooked up to the city's pressurized irrigation. It was tough work! I forgot how hard it was to dig trenches, especially at our house with all the tree roots and rocks!

As Caleb was digging we came across this...

and had to dig it out.


We decided that it was Fred Flinstone's Bowling Ball, that

had been buried in my parents front yard

for who knows how long!

Now I want to go bowling...

Bees Game

So, Jodie sent me a text yesterday at about 4:30, asking if Caleb and I wanted to go to the Bees game with her and her little family! Caleb was beside himself! He's been begging me to go to a baseball game for weeks now. So we got ready and went to Salt Lake, parked in the VIP parking, and went up to her works suite to enjoy the game!

Caleb and I enjoying the 7th inning stretch

Kinsley enjoying a cup in Jodie's lap
The view from the suite we were in

Jodie and Kinsley

Ah, Baseball! One of those sports you just have to love! We had a great time,

and can't wait to go to another game!

A Weekend with Friends

So, Friday was Carrie and Nate's Annual Kite Flying BBQ. It was cold, but quite fun. Great kite flying weather! But really, we enjoyed ourselves. It was really nice to spend time with everyone there. Good food and good times. Carrie and Nate had invited us over to there place for a movie after the bbq, because they still wanted to catch up more. Well, we didn't ever get around to a movie unless you talking about us watching a few clips from Britan's Got Talent on Youtube! :) Carrie has turned me on to couponing, and I think I can really save a ton of money with it.

Then on Saturday, it was my cousin's wife to be's bridal shower. Emily is great, and we had a good time being up there with family and friends. It was really nice to see Grandma and Rendi too.

Then mom and I went and saw Hannah Montana, the movie. Caleb had said he didn't really want to go, so mom took me. It was really quite cute! I'm a sap and I cried. I love the realationship that they portray between her and her dad. It reminds me a lot of the relationship I have with my daddy. I hope and pray that my kids have that kind of a relationship with Caleb and I both.

Travis and Amy got a hold of us, and let us know that they had just moved back. They wanted to go country dancing that night, and invited us along. It was just like old times. You would hardly know that they had been down in Arizona for 2 years. We really enjoyed dancing and being able to catch up with them. We are going to do what we can to see them more often!

I've got a feeling...

...that our kids are going to be like this with their daddy too!

All Good Kitties Go to Heaven Too...

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 18 ½ years that we have had our Tigger at home now. I still remember the day that we brought him home. One of the Rasband girls was babysitting us, I think it was Jennie. Mom came through the door with this little tiny cat, that was so small you would think it was a rat more than a cat. I took him into my bedroom, and decided to name him Tigger, after my favorite Disney Character with stripes. I can't believe I still remember that sometimes, but my life changed forever the day we brought him home.

He was so sensitive to the emotional needs of our family. He could tell when anything was bothering anyone. He would just come into the room, give a gentle little meow, and come over to you when you were upset. He would let me just cry into his fur, and vent my frustrations to him over boys, arguments with my family, and just feeling left out during those crutial growing up years. He was the best listener, and the best pet a kid could ask for.

I put Tig through a lot when I was little, but he tolerated it, and always showed me love. I miss him so much already, and I will never replace him in my heart, because he is family. And thus ends my Ode to Tigger...

California Trip!

So, we left Utah at 5am Wednesday morning, and were on our way. We could both barely sleep, so we had to make sure we were going to stay awake! Once it was light outside, the drive was great, but we were past Beaver by the time it was light. The drive was beautiful! I forget how pretty the drive is getting into Nevada.

My cute hubby focused on the road while we were still in Utah,

check out the snow we left behind us!

Ok, so the only other time I had ever been to In-N-Out burger, I wasn't eating hamburgers. I didn't eat hamburgers for a long time because of a bad experience when I was a kid. So, I'm cheesy, and I had to take a picture of me eating my first In-N-Out Burger. It was tasty.


Ok, so the asphalt between Barstow and Bakersfield has a stretch where it's red! I thought I was so cool, I took a picture. It's hard to tell with the picture, but it's all good.

Bakersfield was very different from what I thought it would be. It was pretty big. Mainly, it was bigger than I thought it would be. It's not a bad place necessarily. Grandma Kate's house where we were staying was beautiful. We got in around 3pm Cali time, and just kinda relaxed and drove around a little that first night.

Thursday, we decided to drive down into L.A. We figured since we were that close we might as well make a trip down!

He's so cute when he's driving!

I got bored on the drive down.

Our first stop was the L.A. Temple. I forgot how pretty it was! The area where it is, you'd think the grounds were going to be really noisy, but it really wasn't! It was like there was a soundproof shield around the grounds! It was great!

After that, we went driving around L.A. We were told that we should go to Sprinkles, but the line was too long. So we just kept driving around, and we got lost. But we just kept driving, and enjoyed the sites.

Then we went out to Claremont to visit some of Caleb's mission companions! We really had a blast there. It was really fun to see Bennett and Michelle again. We hadn't seen them since the wedding. It was fun to meet Drew and Alicia! They are amazing, and I wish we lived closer to both couples. We went to In-N-Out and got to visit with them for a while. Bennett and Michelle needed to call it an early night, but Drew and Alicia wanted to treat us to a local ice cream place called 21 choices. It was really tasty. Then they took us on a walking tour of Claremont. The more we spent time there, the more we felt at home there. We are considering whether we should stay in Utah or not right now. We'll see though.

Friday we did lots of driving around, and spent some more time with Grandma. It was really fun to run around and see where Caleb grew up, and where he used to spend a lot of his time. That night we went to the Bakersfield Condors hockey game. It was a total coincidence that when we were out there, they were playing the Utah Grizzlies. We met up with Devonn and Carla and their sweet boys. The game was a blast! Condors won 6-4!

Us at the game

Caleb and Devonn

The game

Us towards the end of the game.

Also while we were at the game, we ran into Caleb's siblings Jeff and Jennifer! It was nice to see them! After the game Jennifer and her family invited us over to play rock band! We really need a wii! We loved it! Apparently I'm great on the drums! Caleb did great on guitar and bass both!

Saturday we stuck to Bakersfield again. We ran to this place out in Rosedale calle Cost Plus World Market. I love that place! I could have bought almost the whole store! They have such beautiful stuff. It's like Pier 1, but cheaper! I will be frequenting that store!

We also went over to the mall, because they have stores in California that they don't have in Utah. I really loved Sephora. I could have spent all day there. I didn't of course, because Caleb was so entirely bored!

Saturday night we went to a local ice cream soda shoppe called Dewars. It was probably the best ice cream I've ever had. (Yes, I know I lost my sugar point, but it was so worth it!) We decided that we have to go at least once any time we are in Bakersfield, so if you are ever in the area, hit up Dewars!

What was left of my ice cream sundae

Sunday we went to church in the ward where Caleb spent most of his life. It was really great. I love how the church is the same no matter where you go. When we got home, we got some alone time with Grandma! We had a good time with her watching movies and playing with the dogs, Freeman and Lady. We also ran by where Grandpa Larry was buried. I'm sad I never got to meet him. Caleb had a rough time being there, and it's understandable.

Amanda and Larry had us over for Sunday dinner and it was really nice. Caleb and I loved the shredded beef tacos they made for us. We also just got a chance to sit and visit with them, and it was a good time. Caleb and I feel closer to them now.

Monday we decided to drive to Pismo Beach, because it's been SO LONG since either of us had been to the beach! We really enjoyed our day out there! If you ever are there, stop by Hot Shots and eat! It was good food!

Excited for the Beach!

It really was perfect weather!

I loved this sign!

We had so much fun in the water! He got me wet the punk!

Yeah, we're cheesy! What are you gonna do about it??

Sporting my new shirt on the way back to Bakersfield!

Amanda and the kids met us at Dewars one last time, and it was tasty once again! Caleb ordered a Black and White! I'll have to get that next time!

I was sad to come home, but we had a great time out there. I missed Jewel of course, and she's been hovering around us ever since we got home, because I think she's scared we are going to leave like that again. Not for a while, but we plan on going back to Cali soon.