Half way through 2011

A lot has happened this year, but we have not been very good at blogging about the events of 2011.



We enjoyed a great season of BYU basketball. We were even able to make it to a couple of games, including the MWC tournament. Because of school obligations, Katie got to fly down to Las Vegas to meet up with me, my brother Aaron, and my good friend Rod.

I had been to quite a few Las Vegas Bowls, but this was my first (and last) basketball tourney.

It was a great trip and a special experience to watch Jimmer put up 52 against New Mexico. We had great seats for all the games, and even made it on T.V. Jimmer ended up being drafted number 10 to the Sacramento Kings, so I guess we are Kings fans now (if they end up having an NBA season).


Katie finished another semester of school and is three weeks away from being done with her summer class. She has done very well so far. She had been given a scholarship that was continent on her receiving high grades in her first two semesters. She did just that, and will be the first to ever actually qualify for that particular scholarship. She applied for others for this upcoming school year and received another one for the 2011-2012 school year. She still has two more years to go. She is really enjoying it, especially when she gets to do field works. Seems like most places she goes end up trying to offer her a job when she graduates.

Her calling at church is Young Women’s Camp Director. She has done a good job of planning for that upcoming event while still focusing on school. I am sure she will have a lot to blog about after camp.


I work with the young men at church, and last month was our High Adventure camp out. We didn’t have a lot of options since it was still snowing and so much had not melted off. We took the boys to Island Park and stayed in a cabin. Some of the boys set up a tent, but I stayed in the bed. I think we had a pretty good time. We did a GPS scavenger hunt, some fishing, canoe floats, shooting, and EATING.

The YM President is a master Dutch oven chef, and he took good care of us. We had ribs and pork tenderloin in the smoker, cobbler, and full breakfasts each morning.


We had a pretty good time, but I was thinking that next time we leave the boys home and just us leaders go out. I did catch my first fish out of a canoe (was my first time in a canoe too).


Last year was the remodel and yard clean-up. This year we are in landscaping mode. What started out as a small paver patio project has expanded a little bit. I finally got my pasture fenced in so the goats can roam free.


We put in a few rock gardens, poured a concrete patio, and still have more to go. I really want to get an edge put in around our lilacs and put some more rock down this summer.

It will really clean up the edge of the yard and make mowing a lot easier since we will have straight lines. I also need to get a shed or two built.
I bought a few random shed kits last year and have been keeping them in my buddies shop, it is just hard to find time to get them put together. It wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to figure which parts went to which shed. Maybe by the end of the summer I will have those two projects done.

The Paio will be nice because it is on the east side and in shade by 5 p.m. It will be a good home for the swing that has to be moved every time we mow right now. My buddy Jason helped a lot. His dad let me use this awesome mixer that made it pretty slick.





I put some anchor bolts in the concrete to have soemthing to keep the swing and bbq secure.




We started our Independence day celebrations on the 1st, with BYU Football Independence.

Then yesterday we went for a quick trip down and back to Malad. Katie’s family had a family reunion, and Katie also had a class reunion.


We would have liked to stay longer, but I had to get back for work. I also have to work on the 4th, but hopefully I will get off on time and we will be able to catch a fireworks show.

Our First Year in Iona

I can't believe that a year ago this week we closed on our house. It seemed like it would never happen. We had put our offer in on a short sale in November of 2009. Four months later, we finaly had our first house.

I was looking back on some of the pictures from the past year and I cant believe the transfermation of our home and our yard.

WE WON!!!!!

As many of you know, Jared and I are faithful BYU fans. Well, just moments ago BYU just beat SDSU (both top ten teams) 80-67!!!! I just wanted to blog about our absolute joy!

GO COUGARS!

Work & School

You may be wondering where Jared and I have been for the last few months: Work and School. Jared is doing all of the paper work that you have to do at the EIIFC during the winter months when there are no fires. He is also doing stuff at EITC in Idaho Falls where he plans classes for people so they can be qualified to do certain things (as I understand it). I am still in the Occupational Therapy Program at ISU and trying to maintain passing grades. This semester is hard. Luckily I have a very supportive and patient husband who supports me and is always doing something for me. I tell him it will take an eternity to try to make it even...maybe longer!

One time during my undergrad studies I had to teach kids in an after school program. Jared, having special connections with Smokey Bear, helped me do a presentation for the kids. It was a huge hit with the kids. Just another instance where I owe him one! ;)


ISU

Merry Christmas!!!

We had a very Merry Christmas again this year. Katie and I were not going to do much for gifts, but we did want to try to go to a BYU basketball game over our break. Everyone in my family wanted to join us so we met op for the UTEP game the day before Christmas Eve. Even though the weather was crappy right before and right after, we were all able to travel safely and only had to deal with rain. We were able to stay in Malad on our way down and Katie got to take a ride with her mom. She loves to do that, but most of the time we are in too much of a rush to get a ride in.



The next day we stopped and visited with our friends Meagan and Cameron and their little girl Brooklyn. We had not seen them in almost a year. Their little girl is so cute. I wish we had remembered to bring our camera in and get a few pictures. We wish that we lived closer to them so we could get together more often.



We started our super day with a little bowling at the Wilkinson Center on the BYU Campus. I think that is where I bowled for the first time as boy. We had bumpers for the kids and I think the the grown ups could have used some as well. It was a lot of fun to see the kids help each other out and I was quite impressed with how well Jacob did for his first time. With the aid of a ramp, Carson ended up with the second highest score, and Katie was the over all winner.



Laura had made t-shirts for Aleah and the Fisher boy's to ware to the game. They each had a letter on them, and when standing in order of youngest to oldest, they spelled out J I M M E R. (Jimmer Fredette is a preseason all american, and the best player at BYU in 30 years) We got to the game kind of early and the kids got right down on the front row. Aaron got Jimmer's attention and he looked over. He gave them a big smile and a thumbs up. Garrett looked up at Katie and said in his cutest little voice, "He looked at me". We staid after the game and the kids got autographs and pictures with almost all of the players. It was such a neat experience for all of us. Katie even jumped in with Jackson for a quick snap shot.











We were some of the last people in the Marriott Center. Brandon Davies had come out of the locker room late. Katie drew the short straw, and had to take the kids back down the stairs for the tenth time that night. While we were waiting for her and the boys. Becky, Chad, Blake, and Aleah decided to head out. I sat and watched Jimmer walk up the bleachers. All the media and all the fans had left. I thought to myself, "I bet that it is exhausting to be a superstar". I am sure that all he wanted to do is get a shower and get something to eat, now that he had finally escaped. I guess that he happened to be headed out the same time as Becky and her family. He went out of his way to say hi to them and give Blake a big high five. This we really neat because Blake didn't make it down on the floor. I was very impressed that Jimmer did this. There were no cameras or media around. No one was watching and he still made sure that they were thanked for their support.




Christmas eve morning we got up and everyone headed their own way. We needed to get back home because Katie's family was headed up to Idaho Falls, but we were able to make a quick stop before we left town. Our good friends Josh and Gnickie had flown in from Alabama and did not get to Josh's mom's house until 1:30 that morning. We stopped by and visited with Gnickie and their two beautiful twin daughters. Josh was back at the airport dropping off his little brother. He made it back in time for a 30 min. visit. I feel sad that we only saw them for a short while, but am so grateful that we were able to see them at all. Josh and I have been the best of friends for about a decade now. I sure miss having them close by. I wish that he could get a job out here. If you know anyone looking to hire a lawyer out this way, keep him in mind.



We made it home just in time to unload the car, feed the goats, drive back into town and pick up some pizza, and meet everyone back at our house for dinner. Most of Katie's family had made it to Idaho Falls. After dinner we tried to look at the lights down the street, but it was kind of hard with the 500 other cars doing the same thing. We ended up at Bart and Mindy's for a Wassel party and played some games.



The next morning we went back over to open presents. I was glad that we were all together and able to watch Travis and Tanner get so excited about their presents. It was a really nice Christmas. Katie and I made breakfast burritos, and everyone was assigned something for dinner. It was very simple and didn't require anyone to spend much time preparing. I hate when so much time is spent on the food, that the prepares are totally exhausted and cant enjoy the holiday.







It was nice to spend a little time together for our first Christmas in our new home (new to us). We were able to reflect on our many blessings. We have had a lot of highs and lows this past year. As we reflect on some of the scary things we are able to look at the blessings that have come with them. We really have had a great year. Katie has done so well in her first semester of grad school, we both drew elk tags and were able to each shoot our first elk. And even though we do not know what difficulties Blake will have to face in the future, I fill like Katie and I have become closer with my family through his struggles, and have been able to put a lot of things into perspective.

The Huntress

Katie got her first big game animal this weekend. We went hunting with my friend Sheldon and his boy who also had a tag. Both Katie and Cody were able to shoot their first elk. We had a really good time. With finals coming up nest week, this was Katie's only chance to get out. She did a very good job and I am so proud of her and Cody.

A Busy Fall

We have been pretty busy this Fall. Katie started her first semester of Graduate School in August. She is doing very well and is complaining very little. She wakes up at about 5 a.m. every morning so she can catch the bus to Pocatello just after 6. Most nights she takes the 5 p.m. bus which gets her to the house around 6:30. That makes for a pretty long day. She does use her time wisely on the bus and get a lot of studying done in transit.

After my elk hunt, we did sneak a few days in on the deer hunt. Although we got skunked, we had a really good time and got to see a lot of neat things. One morning we jumped a group of does and fawns that had an albino fawn in it. It was the cutest little critter. I hope that we can see it again through the years. My buddy, Jason, was able to shoot a little forky. Should be just right size to get him through the winter.



Katie's little brother Jason is a senior this year. His football team did very well. They went undefeated through the entire season. We were able to see a few of his season games and all of his post season games. We even made it to the semi-final game in New Plymouth. It was a great win. The boys worked so hard, but came up just a little short in the State Championship game. Second place is still pretty darn good. It was a tough loss, but a great season.



Ryan, Katie's oldest brother, got married on November 6th. His wife, Jodie, is such a nice addition to the family. We sure are proud of them and are so grateful that we were able to be there with them on that special day.



We spent a week in Nevada for Thanks Giving. I got about half of my chores done. My mom can't get my dad to do any handy work, so it seems like every time we are home she as stuff that needs to be done. I did get out with my dad on his Deer hunt for a couple day. He ended up tagging a 3x3 that we had seen a few times when I was out with him.



One day dad and Aaron took the four older boys out on the deer hunt one morning and the rest of us met up with them at Great Basin Park. We saw a nice four point about a mile from the park that would have been an easy shot. Too bad we didn't have the tag.