More Family Visits!

After a fun, family-filled weekend in the Tri-Cities, we went straight up to Coeur d'Alene to drop me off at my parents' house to visit my sister, Mary, who had come up for a couple of weeks with her little baby girl, Sarah, who we hadn't seen since they let her out of the hospital! She is so big now! And such a laugher! You just look at her funny, and she busts up laughing! So cute!
Well, it was a fun little visit. Mary and I went shopping a couple of times (something I NEVER seem to have time to do), my mom took a couple days off work to hang out with us also, and we went up to Stoneridge and had lunch with my dad, where Breck and Sienna were able to take a ride in a golf cart! We got a lot of good quality time in!
On Tuesday, we went to the park with my sister-in-law, Shawnte', and little Vance. We later met up with Jessy Maus and her little girl Lexi. Lexi, Vance, and Little Sarah are all about the same age, within a couple of weeks of each other, so they had fun hanging out together on the blanket. My kids, meanwhile were crazy about Ft. Sherman, I don't think they've seen such a large park! They played so hard, and slept VERY well that night!
Wednesday, we decided to muster up enough strength and courage to get a good grandchildren shot, though there weren't quite so many children to coordinate for in our family, as there was the weekend before! Later that night, Mary and I went to a girls' night, which was a blast. It was sad to leave!
Breck was able to work on a little project with Grandpa, a little race car that they made with scrap wood. Breck helped with everything, the drilling, painting, glueing, and even a little cutting! He was pretty excited about having a new toy car!
We had a blast, and came home ready to see Daddy and have some good family time at home!

Jovi and Tracen's Weekend!

This last weekend we went over to the Tri-Cities for two very special events: our Elder Jovi's (Josten's brother) homecoming party and talk, and baby Tracen's blessing! What a fun weekend! We actually had ALL 12 GRANDKIDS together at the same time! We somehow managed to get them all to somewhat participate in a big grandkid picture! It was so good to see Jovi after two long years of being away in Pittsburg for his mission for our church, and to see the man he has become! On sunday, Jovi gave an excellent talk, recounting the blessings, inspiriations, and experiences from his mission. He delivered it so well, and I think we all felt the spirit in his words. After Jovi's ward, we headed over to Karen's ward, to bless baby Tracen, who we met for the first time as well! (On top of FINALLY meeting Brody, Jonbrock and Sheri's new little boy!) What an amazing blessing he was given by Grandpa Cornett! We're so excited to see him grow and turn into a little boy, then a big boy, then a man, and watch him turn into the man that we all felt he would become that day. We were so grateful to be able to have the opportunity to visit with family, especially for two very special events! Congratulations Jovi and Tracen!

Uncle Jehkiah playing with Breck, while Sienna looks on covetously

The Grand Kiddies: (From Left to Right) Braden Baisden, Sienna Cornett, Colby Beaver, Mackenzie Beaver, Brody Olsen, Kaelynn Baisden, Zoey Olsen, Breck Cornett (only wanting to play), Shyane Beaver, Vance Morton, Tracen Thorn, and Makenna Baisden

Sienna and Grandma Katrina having a ball!

Elder Jovi Olsen, Last time he saw Breck he was 5 months old!!! And of course, Sienna was non-existent

The girls hanging out in Shyane's room. Shasta's getting reacquainted with newborns in preparation for #4 in May!


The Men from the blessing circle.

4 Years! Wow!!!

I'm torn between saying "I can't believe it's been 4 years already!" and, "Has it ONLY been 4 years???" In reality, it feels like longer, because so much has happened in those 4 short years, that it seems like a lifetime worth of events, rather than something that could be forced to fit into 4 years. I also feel like Josten's ALWAYS been a part of my life, and it feels hard to imagine life when he didn't exist to me. On the other hand, wow, that went quick! I still feel like the awkward 19-year-old girl that Josten somehow saw potential in, when we both made a decision that would change our lives for the better. Though maybe still a bit awkward, it's hard to think to myself how much time has passed, and that I'm now not only a wife, but a mother...of two!
We have so much to be grateful for, so much to celebrate as we celebrate our four years together. We have a wonderful little family, which fact brings us so much joy, it's hard to contain! We have truley been blessed in so many ways, in so many little instances and so many huge instances as well!
We definitely feel the blessings we have reaped from a temple marraige. We feel the Lord has been on our side, has helped us, and blessed us beyond anything we could have ever thought possible. I love you Jos Sauce, for all eternity!






Our anniversary was sort of funny this year. Josten was changing out the liscence plates on our car, and cut his finger open. He had to go get 7 stitches, which they gave him some pretty heavy drugs for. After DRVING to school, his classmates in ROTC sensed his weakened condition, and drove our car home with him. I, meanwhile, had no idea that anything had happened, that he had even hurt himself, and driven himself to the hospital gushing blood, as I saw Josten emerge from the passenger side of our car, ana a little loopy at that. He hurried and got ready to go out (thanks so much to the Thackers for taking on our kids for the night!) and told me the whole story as we were driving to dinner! We had a great time, though Josten would occaisionally drift into lala land here and there. It was just nice to get out just the two of us, and reflect on the last year, and make goals for the years to come. We had a great anniversary, and have had a great 4 years!