Birthday Pics

Gracie is ONE!
Yay! We had a great day celebrating her birthday as well as our anniversary. here are a few pics. Yummy Cake! We just couldn't wait to see Gracie dive in!
And YUP! Gracie uses a cup now!The Birthday outfit that is a little too big! But darn cute huh?Gracie throwing a fit while I was trying to get pictures of her!
Ya, she's fake crying!

(HUGE Thanks Suzi and Braden for taking Gracie Swimming while Deryk and I went out on a date--just the two of us!!)

One Year ago!

This is Grace Clare the day we took her home from the hospital one year ago.

THIS is Gracie the day she turned one (yesterday)!

WOW! Big change huh. Our little dark haired baby turned blond! We love it and think it suits her well.

Its been One exciting year with Gracie! She has quite a personality and we absolutely love it! I am thankful every day for the blessing she is in our home and family!

Who knew a Tool Box Could Provide so Much Entertainment?

I was using Deryk's tool box for an object lesson for sharing time in primary.(Absolutely love my new calling!!) I had emptied it out to put tools in it that represented the scriptures, but Gracie liked it empty the best!

Change of Plans!

Well, I guess it is about time to update family and friends on what Deryk and I have been brewing up for the past month.
Deryk and I have been talking a lot about our future lately. I graduate next year and Deryk would be starting the education program here at ISU this semester, so naturally we've been pondering what we want for our family and out of life. I was some what worried about Deryk persuing his degree here at ISU because the program is going through some not-so-positive changes and it seemed as though Deryk wasn't really all that thrilled about his prospective future in teaching math. When ever Deryk and I have talked about it he has expressed a desire to teach more of a vo-tech program, but ISU doesn't offer that program here. We looked into it, and found the program that fits into Deryk's interests perfectly! But it is offered at USU which offers a few obstacles we have had to consider and decide if it is worth persuing. Ultimately we decided to just move forward, put in applications and see what financial aid, grants and programs we could get some help from. So a month later and we found out last night that Deryk has been accepted into the Engineering program at USU where he can persue a degree in Engineering Technology education. He has been so super excited about the program ever sense we found it! Which makes me thrilled as ever.
So we have had to make some changes in our near future plans, but we look forward, with great anticipation, to the adventure that lies ahead of us!

Our New Baby Sitter!

My nephew Trevor has been baby sitting Gracie for an hour in the morning for the last three weeks. I can't believe how grown-up he is! I still see that cute little two-year-old chasing after "loons" (baloons) with those chubby cheeks bouncing in his delight! He is a great care-giver (like his mom)! He is so attentive to Gracie and keeps her entertained in that hour they are together--she never fusses! Now that is a sign of one attentive babysitter. So, thanks Trevor!!! I appreciate your willingness to help and your sweetness with Gracie. And truthfully, it is the cutest thing in the world to me when I pick up Gracie and Trevor has her all ready to go-- Gracie in his arms and the diaper bag in hand! I love you Trev!!

Tugging Hard on The Heart Strings!

As I have mentioned before, I have been taking summer classes and also chose to take some of the tests that are required to take to graduate during this summer. It kept me busy with reading, studying, writing papers, preparing presentations, and writing lesson plans for several units. Fortunately for me, Grace is a very good baby, MOST of the time.
Some times when I'm studying, or writing lesson plans, she will stand in front of me as I sit on the couch with her hand on my knee and just chatter like the girl she is. One day I was studying for the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Assessment, which I would be taking the next day, and she was just doing her normal thing--standing in front of me with her hand on my knee chating up a storm. After a while she knelt down in front of me and continued to baby talk. A short time later she sat down still chatting her baby-sense. A few minutes later I noticed she had gotten very quiet. I looked down to find her sleeping at my feet. Boy-o-boy! Talk about tugging at my heart strings! That was one hard tug! I'll be glad when I can focus more time and attention on her. Just three more days of summer classes and then I can devote everything to her (well...most everything) for a few weeks!
By-the-way, all the studying paid off! I passed the two major tests I took! I do owe one huge and very loving thanks to my mother-in-law for coming for a few days. Thanks Sue for watching Grace while I stressed out and studied a little ;0) I really do have one of the best mom-in-laws a girl could ask for! Thanks for all your support and help Sue!!

Camera Missing In Action

This summer has been so busy! Can you believe we are already into July! We've been busily enjoying our summer and wishing that time would come to a stop for a few days so that we could get the most out of our summer semi-vacation. We've done a tons of fun things lately, yet somehow our camera never makes it to the fun! We've enjoyed bike rides, a family reunion (and look forward to, with great anticipation to more reunions) learned to play frisbee golf (thanks to Suzi and Braden for teaching us "the way its done"), camping and campfires with family, projects, college classes (okay, not really enjoying that one, but enjoying the fact that it gets 10 credits out of the way in a huge hurry), and so much more. I wish we had pictures of the fun we're having--and I promise myself and my blog readers who get bored reading what I have to say and would much rather see pictures of what we are doing, that I'll be better at remembering the camera and actually using it when I do remember to bring it.
So, looking forward to the next two months of summer vacation and hope it goes as well as the first two months and that we have more opportunities to enjoy it with the ones we love.

YAY For Our Fathers on Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the two men and fathers I love most and have made my life the happiest and best! Thanks for providing a safe and happy home and the love only a father can give his daughter (the sentiments work for both the special daddies in my life)!

And a happy Father's day to the Father who is loved by my sweet hubby!

The Many Faces of Grace's!

So our little Grace is getting quite a wild personality! she is so fun! She loves to laugh and play, but beware, if something makes our cute and happy little baby upset--she is very capable of letting you know how she feels. So I've gotten a few of Grace's faces on camera--so darn funny yhe way she expresses herself!

Fun Junk!

We have been so busy around here lately (and I thought things would slow down once summer began!)!

I'm taking summer classes and tests so that I can teach in the spring. And Deryk is working full time and getting some projects around here finished.

So I have let a few things fall to the wayside, trying to prioritize the events of our lives. Unfortunately, it was the blog that was neglected first. But we have some fun pictures to post, the thought of putting it off any longer bothers me--I'll have a thousand pictures I'll want to post if I wait 'til things calm down around here!

Grace has started to cruise the couches, chairs, and even the tub! She does pretty good standing, but she gets very scared without the security of her support. One day I was sitting on the couch and Gracie stood up using the couch. When she let go of the couch she was totally fine, but then she realized she was no longer holding onto the couch and panicked in a very big way! She grasped for me, but lost her balance and fell on that diapered booty! It was so funny, though I know I shouldn't have felt it was--after all, it was so frightening in her mind.This is Gracie's favorite new toy (given to her by my sis, Miriam and her kids)! She is so funny with it! When all the pieces are in the puzzle she likes to take them out with her mouth (they have a large round wooden dowel in them) and suck on them like they are her Passifier. It's just to cute to me!!And Finally, Deryk and I planted a garden this year (actually Deryk planted the garden while I hung out with my fam at Benjamin's birthday party--I have an amazing husband). I do help to care for it, and a week or two ago we were weeding one night. Grace was just playing in the grass, but then noticed we were doing something and decided she needed to be a part of it (as she ALWAYS does). I can only imagine that she thought whatever we were doing must be something important--and in her sweet little mind anything important has got to be eatible. So she ate the dirt! Oh well--it can't kill her can it?!

Memorial Day Fun

We spent Memorial day with my family at Green Canyon. We swam, flew kites, rode bikes, ATE, and had a great time laughing and being with the fam!!! Thanks Dad, for the DELICIOUS dutch oven dinner!

So here are a few Memorial Day pics.

Latest Adventures

For Mother's day I asked Deryk for a bike and to go biking. Deryk, of course, made all my wildest dreams come true and he took me riding while his parents watched Gracie (ONE BIG HUGE THANKS TO JOE AND SUE) and we rode from just below Pomerell to Malta, about a 10 or so mile trip. We had so much fun!

Since then, we have been biking the MANY trails here in Pocatello and out to the waterfall by my house (Trevor and Danny came with us and we had so much fun!).

Thanks to Deryk for making mother's day such a great one!

Easter Dress Photo Op!

We finally took pictures of Gracie in her Easter Dress! Check it out!(Thanks Dylan for letting us use your awesome camera! You are a great Uncle!)

Semester's End...

And not a moment to soon!

We did it! We made it through another semester!
It was a little rough going back to school for me, I had the hardest time getting back into the educational scene and knowing just how to prioritize my time well and I'll probably struggle with that until I graduate. I have a greater respect for my sisters, mom, and friends who have earned their degrees while doing the family thing--you are all so amazing to me! School used to be fun for me, but being a mommy is so much better than being a student and I've lost all interest in school. Oh well, I just have to make it through the next year.

So I'm pleased to report that Deryk and I both did quite well this semester!! And I have to be sure to give credit were credit is due--Thanks to Deryk, this semester was a successful one. He is the reason I passed physics and was able to do what studying I did manage to do. Thanks Deryk, you're my life-saver! (Just think, at this time next year I'll have a degree and it'll be just a matter of time until you have yours!!!)

So now we can enjoy a productive and eventful summer as a family and put all the stress of this last school year behind us. I look forward to another summer--it REALLY is my most favorite season!

Totally Lovin It!

So Deryk put in a fire pit in our backyard a few weeks ago (he made it out of a dryer or washer part) and I just have to say how much we love it! We have been using it every chance we get! We invited the Pocatello Simper crew and Stephen and Sarah (they live in Blackfoot, which is only 20min away) to a Family Night and roasted Hotdogs (of course, its not a Simper family event without hotdogs). Then Deryk and I used it to roast marshmallows for our own little family night and since then it has been used over and over again with Rachel's and Debbi's kids and with deryk's brother Braden and Joe (Deryk's dad) to make smores. So needless to say, in the few short weeks we've had it, it has been used very well and quite often. I'm glad Deryk is so inventive and acts on his good ideas, even when I'm not so sure about them ;).

Here are some pictures of us enjoying Deryk's inventive fire pit.

Thanks Grandma Simper for the Booties

My mom Knitted these adorable little booties for Gracie, who absolutely will not keep her socks on! Aren't they just so cute, my mom is so talented with her hands, she can knit, sew, cross stitch, cook, and crochet (all of which, I never really learned to do well because I'm so darn impatient). Thanks Mom for the cute Booties! They are perfect for Grace and I just love seeing them on her little (okay, not so little) feet!

I took these pictures a while ago, but because the last month has been so busy, I am just now posting them.

Oh ya, and the new ones are so darn cute and work perfectly! Thanks Mom-You are amazing and I appreciate all you do!