Bathroom Update

We decided to update our bathroom cabinets, by painting them white this past weekend.  Here are some pics of the progress of the bathroom over the past couple years.

 When we first moved in, this is how it looked.

We then painted the walls.  

Then added a frame around the mirror 

Then changed out the lights

Now starting to get ready to paint 

Work in progress on the cabinet paint.

Added new hardware

All done!

Old vs New

Next step....updating the floors.....

May is Here!

I can't believe May is here, but I'm so happy it is.  I'm glad the weather is getting warmer, and Summer is just around the corner.  Here are some updates.

April 28.  Shortly after baby Ayden was born, they realized they needed to perform surgery on his esophagus.  They didn't have the technology in Twin Falls, so they life-flighted him up to Boise.  A couple days later, they did the operation.  The surgery went well.  His esophagus was developed, but wrongly attached.  After it was repaired though, there wasn't enough of it left to attach to his stomach.  So, they'll let him grow and then go back in a few months to attach it to his stomach.  Anna is doing better also, just slow.  She said it will take 4 months for her body to build her blood supply back up.

Baby Ayden just before surgery

My mom w/ Ayden

Nyles has been having fun playing.  He's learning so much and saying new words everyday.  We're amazed by how much he's growing and developing.  He definitely has his "toddler moments" but we love having him in our family.  He's such a joy!

Grandma Joann made some ducks for Nyles to practice his shooting skills.

Steve and Nyles at a fishing pond in Draper

April 30.  Steve went down to the Dinosaur Museum in Lehi w/ Carrie, Stacie, Kim and their kids.  Steve said it was better than he thought :)  The kids had a lot of fun playing together.  

Steve and Nyles w/ their stamps to get into the museum.
Nyles thought it was pretty awesome!

Conor, Lynsie, London, Nyles, Cameron and Alexa

Playing

Finding Dinosaurs 

Conor, London, Cameron, Alexa, Nyles and Lynsie.
A little better picture this time.

May 1.  Steve picked me up after work on Friday.  We decided to go up to the cabin overnight.  The snow is pretty much melted, except in higher places.  It was nice being able to drive right up to the cabin again.  It was 59 degrees in the cabin, but we decided we should make a fire anyway since it would get colder in the evening.  As we went to start the fire we could hear a bird inside.  Steve went and got a net and gloves, then caught the bird and released it outside.  We then heard another bird, so we tried to do the same thing, but this one got out in the cabin.  Luckily Steve was able to catch it and release it as well.  As we got the fire going, feathers were coming out of the chimney for quite a while.  We think they must have been there a little while, or had a nest up top.  We watched the "Planes" movie, then put Nyles to bed.  We went over some "questions to ask your spouse," then we went to bed shortly after.  We've done this the past couple weekends.  It's been fun getting to know each other even better ;)

The next morning, we had breakfast, then took a walk down to the Lake.  Steve wanted to see how fishing was, and Nyles wanted to play w/ a truck.   Steve caught 2 fish in about 20 minutes, so he was pretty happy about that.  Nyles was content just picking up rocks and putting them in the truck or throwing them down the hill.  It was a beautiful day up at Strawberry!  There were plenty of boats out on the Lake as well.  We then went back to the cabin, packed and cleaned, then went home.  It was fun just to get away for a little while and relax.

Taking a walk down to the Lake

Now fishing

Nyles playing w/ a truck

Steve catching a fish. 

Nyles loading up rocks in his truck.

We finished "tax season" at work, but now we're starting a campaign this week.  I've been really busy w/ my book, and it's not going to slow down until after the Summer.  Things are going pretty well though.

Steve has his finals this week as well.  He'll have about a week off, then start Summer school, yeah!  Yeah for longer daylight hours and warmer days.  We're excited for Summer!

A sister shared her testimony today for which I was really appreciative for.  She explained how she had a day that everything just seemed to go wrong, no matter what she did.  Then she talked about how it's easy to compare ourselves to others and it's hard to be happy for others when things aren’t going well for you.  She then testified of the love Heavenly Father has for us.  We aren't here to compete w/ one another, but rather to uplift one another.  Ironically we had a talk about this the week before in sacrament meeting, from Elder Holland's talk called "The Other Prodigal Son."  In it he said," I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other.” 

I’m sure we all feel this way at one time or another.  It’s something I know I have to constantly be reminded of what’s really important in life.  This life is too short to take for granted.  This reminds me of another quote from Gordon B. Hinckley.  He said, “You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make." One of those sacrifices I believe is our families, and another is the Gospel.  We need to constantly keep them in focus.  I know the Lord loves us and has prepared a way for us to return to Him.  Families are Forever!

April Showers

The weather sure has been all over the place the past couple weeks.  We've had snow, rain and beautiful sunshine.  No complaining though, since we need the moisture.  Here are a few updates.

April 15, tax day, getting snow.

Me waiting for the train to come, on my way to work

Nyles playing in the snow later that day

April 17.  The weather warmed up a little bit, so Steve wanted to go fishing.  He invited Carrie and Stacie and their kids to come as well.  They had a good time.

Conor and Nyles playing w/ some sticks

Lynsie, Nyles and Conor playing w/ sticks

Steve helping to get their fishing pole ready

April 19.  Steve and Nyles went w/ Dave down to Cabela's to get a few things.  Nyles wanted to pretend to shoot ducks and the skunk.

 

April 20.  Steve bought a new pair of shorts at Walmart and they gave Nyles and free loader.  Nyles was super excited.  Steve then went fishing and Nyles playing w/ his loader in the dirt.  He LOVED that for sure!

April 23.  Nyles was at Joann's for a little bit while Steve went to school and until I got home from work.  Carrie and Lynsie stopped by as well.  Nyles saw the rubber-bands in Lynsie's hair and wanted to have some himself, so Carrie managed to get some in.  It was pretty impressive since we just cut his hair.  I didn't think there was enough hair to even put in a rubber band, but apparently there was.  Nyles thought it was pretty fun.  Carrie told him he looked like a dinosaur.  Nyles thought it was awesome!

Dinosaur hair, silly boy!

April 25.  Steve wanted to get Nyles out of the house, so they drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Silver Lake.  The boardwalk was still covered in snow, but Steve said it was still fun to go up there.  Soon enough it will be hot and it will feel good up there where it is cooler than down in the valley.

Nyles loves any chance he can get to wear his boots.

I've been busy at work.  Since it's been about a year since I started (May 5th), I have a lot of Annual Reviews coming up for my clients.  I've been bringing the reviews forward as I'm speaking to clients now, in an effort to lesson my load in the next few months.  It's been going well so far.  I'll continue to be busy through July actually.

Steve has been busy w/ tests.  He finished up his labs last week, so now he'll be reviewing for his finals in his classes, which will be the first week of May.  We signed up for his Summer and Fall classes as well.  He're hoping to apply for a few PA programs this Summer as well if all goes according to plan.

We were able to go to the temple last Friday.  Rob was kind enough to come sit w/ Nyles.  We had dinner together, then we left.  Rob read Nyles a couple stories, then got him into bed.  Surprisingly Nyles went right down to bed for him.  We were able to attend a session by going a little earlier and having Rob put Nyles to bed.  It was great.  Thanks Rob!  Nyles calls him "Uncle Rob."  It's pretty cute.  Sometimes he says "Bob" instead of Rob, but he's working on it.

Last Sunday we had our neighbors Dave and Melissa Thomas over for dinner.  We cooked up half of one of our hams (we bought a whole pig about a month ago, so we have lots to share).  They will be moving this week, so we wanted to invite them over.  They've been great neighbors.  They've been here the same time we have in our condo.  They sold theirs and bought a house in Woods Cross.  We'll miss them for sure.

We're excited for Summer.  Nyles is looking forward to swimming and just being outside more.  We're going to do a few more updates to our condo, so we'll be ready to sell it, hopefully next year.  We'll also be going to Idaho in June for our Family Reunion.  And I'm sure we'll be going up to the cabin a few times as well.  It should be a fun Summer!

Anna had her baby yesterday.  She was having Pre Clamsia, so they did a C-Section and took the baby.  She was about 34.5 weeks along.  The baby weighed only 2lbs 13oz.  They named him Ayden Blake Coates.  He'll be in the NICU for a while I'm sure.  Anna is doing ok.  Sounds like they had to do a blood transfusion last night as well.  Anna is doing better, but will take a few weeks of course to mend.  We'll keep her and Ayden in our prayers.

I'm thankful for the Gospel and the power of prayer.  I'm grateful we can relisten to and read the General Conference talks as well.  I appreciate the words of the Prophets and all those who spoke during conference.   We are blessed!

Other April Updates

March 30

Nyles tummy hurting, so he wanted to lay on the couch w/ his blanket and toys.

Feeling better now, playing w/ his tractors, trucks and trailers

April 1

A beautiful flower Steve saw and thought of me ;)

April 2

Lynsie and Nyles watching "Curious George" w/ Grandma Joann.  

Nyles insisted on staying in his "majis" all day!  Silly kid :)

Lynsie and Nyles now watching "Rescuers Down Under" w/ Grandpa Dave

Dave enjoying the movie

At Scheels, Nyles pretending to shoot ducks

Eew a skunk, stinky!

April 10th

Carrie, Lynsie and Nyles at Wheeler Farm enjoying the beautiful weather.

Now getting dizzy on the lawn

We are so grateful to have Nyles in our family.  He is such a joy.  His favorite word lately is Why?  He says why to just about everything that he say; silly kid.  He definitely keeps life interesting, but most importantly he bring joy and happiness to our family.  We love him so much!