OMSI

We went to a science museum in Portland today called OMSI. We went in April of this year and loved it then so we were excited to go again! They have something for all ages and when we were there in April, Bailee loved the baby area. This time, she was able to do so much more and just loved going from one activity to the next. Her favorite were the sand and water areas. She could have stayed there all day if we let her! In fact, when it was time to go, it was more because of the adults being ready for naps! Some of her cousins were able to go as well which was fun to see her play with them :) I love that we can go there and the mess stays when we leave and Bailee has been stimulated and has experienced new activities. It was also fun for us to be there because there is such a wide range of exhibits. Last time was a Lego exhibit and this time it was grossology. Bailee loved the digestive system slide and tunnel and pushing the fart buttons :) my favorite thing this time was a 3D globe that displays current satellite footage of the world. On that globe there are little yellow marks that move all around and account for all commercial planes in the sky at the time you are looking at it. It was amazing to see how many people were flying around noon today! China was pretty much a yellow blob with all of the flights in and out of what we assumed was hong kong. Another area that was extremely busy was the east coast and I was not surprised by the flights to and from Hawaii at this time of year. Blake pointed out how looking at the globe made him think of how quickly sickness and disease can travel globally so quickly from air travel. I am a visual learner so it really gave me some great perspective! We have decided that OMSI will have to be a regular event when we visit because we love it so much :)

Nickel arcade

Dave, his sister Michelle, her hubby Blake, and I went to a nickel arcade in Portland today. Dave and I do not take the time to date as much as we should so it was so wonderful when his mom offered to watch Bailee so we could get out. The games took me back to my childhood and I felt like a kid again. We had a similar date in Rexburg right after Bailee was born and I must say those kind are my favorite! If I have a choice I take activities like this over a fancy dinner or a movie. The best dates are cheap but loaded with fun and interaction, to me :) I love the game where you roll a ball up a ramp and try to get points based on the hole it lands in. I could seriously play that over and over and over! While playing it, my machine had a bit of a malfunction and spewed out loads of tickets!!! I was worried it wouldn't stop! A little boy, maybe 6 or 7 years old, next to me stopped his game and kept saying to his mom "whoa! I like that machine!" He wanted to play after me thinking that he would get a similar outcome of tickets. Once it stopped, I had so many tickets and decided to share a very generous amount with the little boy. He was so appreciative and cute and I knew he would enjoy the prizes more than me. I felt so good after that and was grateful I was able to make him so happy :) I must also add that I beat Dave at one game of air hockey as well as a racing game. It is a pretty big deal for me to beat him at just about anything so I was pretty pleased :) we kept Bailee in mind when choosing prizes at the end and she was so excited when we brought them back to her. She was most antsy and...demanding.. Of the slinky we picked out. It was cute to see Dave holding it and Bailee was blabbering on and on reaching to try and get it from him because she just wanted it so badly. In all it was a fun outing and good time to spend with Blake and Michelle too. I hope that place stays around for a while so we can go when we visit again and when our kids would appreciate it!

Christmas!!!

This Christmas season has been so wonderful as we have been able to spend time with both of our families. We had events planned before knowing of our move and we are so grateful for family and this time we are able to be together. We are in Washington right now and have enjoyed our time here as well as enjoying the rainy cozy weather that we haven't had very much of at home. Bailee has had goopy eyes since yesterday, fell and got a bloody nose, and had her fingers accidentally smashed in a door today but she keeps her happy spirit and to us they are memories to remember. She loves opening the presents and has been eager to help others with theirs as well :) I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have of eternal families and the plan of happiness. As I have gotten older, although still loving gifts, I have enjoyed the spiritual remembrance of my Savior and having time with family even more :) we have continued the tradition of new pjs and I think that is my very favorite one. There is something so comfy about new jammies! I feel so blessed and loved and look forward to a new year of changes for our family :)

Nursery!

Today we are in Washington to celebrate Christmas with Dave's family and it is so wonderful to be here! Today was also Bailee's first day to go to nursery at church and it was kind of a big deal for me. In my mind it is the passage from baby to toddler and I just can't believe my baby is getting so big! During sacrament she was singing the "ooooo" part in gloria to the song Angels we have heard on high so loud but I absolutely loved it. She is a musical little girl and continues to be so independent. Dave and I both loved that we were able to be in our own classes and know that Bailee was happy and in good hands. One of the nursery leaders told me that she was so surprised that this was her first day in nursery and Bailee was so great for them. I love the feeling that comes when I hear positive feedback about my child from other adults :) It sure makes me grateful for my independent and happy little girl!
I also added a picture of Bailee with her cousin Hannah who she absolutely adores :) I had to stop her from trying to pick up Hannah to go play with her. I am grateful that Bailee is having this time to get to know her cousins even better and make memories with them :)

Well here goes nothin'....

After a long year and a bit of not being sure about our next step after college, Dave received news today that he got into the accelerated nursing program that he wanted... In Tennessee!!! We will be just outside of Nashville in Hendersonville. So we had thought we would have some time to prepare for it, but it starts at the beginning of February so things will happen quickly! We are so excited for this change in our original plan and we have found that The Lord is truly blessing us. We have loved our time in Sacramento and we are so grateful to have been here but know that to move forward we must go on. We happened to set up a lease that ends in January and we had been thinking maybe that was a bad idea. Now things are happening for the best and we look forward to a new adventure down south! We have learned a lot personally and together as a family that has taught us faith and diligence in doing what we know is right and The Lord will bless on his timetable. Just find joy in the journey :)

Temple visit with Bailee

This morning I had to get our car checked out at the honda dealer and took Bailee along since Dave was working. The temple is literally the next street over from the Honda dealer so I had them take us up there for the time they would work on the car. It felt so wonderful to be on the temple grounds and have Bailee there with me. It was much better to be there than trying to entertain her in the dealership. While we were at the temple Bailee would go off the main path into the bushes and I would just simply say to come back to the sidewalk and she would listen so well. I was amazed because listening has been a struggle... She would point to the temple and say her version of temple and we talked about how it is Jesus' home. Lately the answer we get to everything is "no" but when I asked if she wants to go inside the temple and get married in the temple she shook her head yes very excitedly. It was a sweet experience for me and just makes me hope that we can help her know how much her Heavenly Father loves her and how important she is. Her response to my question also just reminded me of the faith of a child and how sweet and pure they are. I love seeing her face light up when she identifies a picture of Jesus and how she says his name with so much excitement!

Hanging out with great grandpa Barrett

We are spending the weekend with my grandparents since they returned home not long ago from their mission at Martins Cove. They live on about an acre of property and Bailee just loves being able to run around. Being here makes me want to live on a piece of property like this to raise children and to be able to have space to have trees and a garden. I feel like I can breathe out here!