Happy Birthday Devry!

Devry turned 25 on December 28th! We had a fun time celebrating at his parents house with family. We all enjoyed cake, brownies and ice cream.

Trey helped him blow out his candles.

I am so thankful for such a wonderful husband. He is so kind and thoughtful, and takes such great care of Payton and me. Happy Birthday Devry!!

Payton's First Christmas

We had so much fun celebrating Christmas with Payton. Even though he had no idea what was going on, we had to wake him up to open presents, and of course the wrapping paper was his favorite part, it still was alot of fun! Of course I missed home and my family, but we had a ton of fun keeping old traditions and starting new ones with our little family. We finished up our shopping on the 23rd, and got to take Payton to see Santa. It was fun to get a picture of Payton on Santa's lap.

Since I was scheduled to work on Christmas Eve we planned to have dinner at 3:00 so I could be at work by 6. We had Chinese food, which has become a tradition for us. Devry's parents and his brother Tim and his wife came over for dinner. We had fun eating and playing the wii. I was put on call for work, so I got to stay home. We opened our Christmas eve presents (pajamas..which is a fun tradition we have). Payton looked so cute in his "my first Christmas" PJ's. Payton went to bed, and we finished getting everything ready for Christmas.

Payton's cute Christmas PJ's. He was so smiley!

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. Payton woke up to eat and I was all excited about opening presents.....so he finished eating and fell right back to sleep. We let him sleep for about 45 minutes then ended up waking him up, because I was excited and couldn't get back to sleep.

We opened our stockings, and "helped" Payton open his. He really enjoyed eating the wrapping paper and bows. Then we opened all of our gifts from family and Santa. We got lots of great gifts, but more importantly we really enjoyed the morning together.

We made yummy waffles with my new waffle maker, and enjoyed the morning together. Then we started making Christmas Dinner. We made the Turkey, and Devry's mom made the rolls, potatoes and gravy. We had a few sides too. It turned out really good. Payton even got to try some peas for the first time, although he was not a big fan.

We had a great Christmas! It was so fun to enjoy it with Devry and some of his family, and even more exciting to celebrate Payton's first Christmas.

Christmas Song

I came across this song while listening to Pandora last year around Christmas. I fell in love with the song. It is called I believe, by Natalie Grant. I think the message of the song is what Christmas is really about.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Chilly weather, Decorating the tree, hearing carols wherever you go....Christmas is coming! I am excited, but also sad. I have so many memories of Christmas with my family growing up, big famliy parties, huge Christmas Dinner, secret santas, gifts to friends and neighbours, going to see the live nativity pagent, going to grandparents, all my moms wonderful baking, and SO many more. I can't help but feel homesick during this time of year. Christmas is the biggest holiday in my family. We have so many traditions, starting at the beginning of December right up until Christmas. This will be my 3rd year being away from home for Christmas. Every year has been hard, for different reasons. The first year was my very first Christmas away from home, and my first Christmas being married. Devry's brothers all were at their inlaw's for Christmas, so we celebrated with his Parents. It was fun, but since I was so used to all the people and celebrations my family has, I was so homesick. I had a very hard time that year. Last year was dissapointing because we had booked tickets to fly home, went to salt lake, and our flights got cancelled. The good thing about last year was that Devry's brothers were here to celebrate, so it seemed a bit more like what I am used to, with lots of family. I debated going home this year, but between the price, my work schedule and being too nervous about flights getting cancelled, we decided not to. It is the year that Devry's brothers and their families will be gone, so I am trying to have a good attitude about it. I want this Christmas to be fun and exciting, since it's Payton's first. I am trying to keep some of the traditions I am used to, and also start some new ones. I am still having a very hard time being excited though. I picked up a Christmas Eve shift (for double time pay) because the money's good, and I was being very negative about my expectations for Christmas. I said to myself "if I work Christmas eve, then I can just sleep through Christmas and not feel so homesick and disapointed." I know that in order for it to be what I want, my attitude needs to change, but its hard. I want Payton to grow up loving Christmas as much as I did, but how can I do that when I am having a hard time loving it. Any pointers??

Thanksgiving

This past week has been a lot of fun! Devry was off work from wednesday to today. I love when he doesn't have to work, and can be around all the time. We spent most of our time at Devry's parents house. Devry's brother Ted and his wife Shayla came up from Pocatello for the holiday. They got here Wednesday night and left today. His other brothers Dan and Tim were also over alot with their families. We did so many fun things! The guys mostly watched football, and the girls made bead watches. We had a few game nights with everyone, and of course enjoyed TONS of wonderful food. Shayla, Danizza (Tim's wife), and I went to see New Moon. It was the second time for Danizza and Me, but we wanted to make sure Shayla got to see it, so we went again....and Loved it just as much as the first time.

Thanksgiving Dinner was wonderful! I didn't take as many pictures as I should have, this was really the only one we got of anything during the meal. The little treat in the bowl was cute turkeys our nephews made with Grandma.


We were so excited that Payton got to experience thanksgiving...with rice cereal. It was the first time we fed it to him, and he LOVED it! The first few spoon fulls mostly ended up on his bib, or me...but after a few minutes he really got the hang of it! He would open his mouth and wait for me to feed him. We have fed him a few times since and he is doing so well!

He was really good at keeping the rice cereal in his mouth...but still made a huge mess because he thought he needed to eat his fingers at the same time!

We asked Devry's brother Dan to take some family pictures for us. It was chilly outside, so we hurried outside for a few minutes, snapped some pictures, and ran back inside so Payton wouldn't get too cold. We got a few that turned out pretty good. We really didn't get any that we weren't squinting in, since the glare of the sun off the snow was right in our eyes. Oh well...they turned out pretty good for a 30 second photo session.



We had a wonderful weekend! We love getting together with family for holidays.

Halloween

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures from Halloween. Our costumes were quite last minute. I don't really like halloween, but we had fun dressing Payton up and carving pumpkins.
Payton was a football player (a michigan one according to Devry). He was so cute! I was a canadian (original, I know), and Devry was a golfer. We had fun going to the trunk or treat at our ward.

We carved pumpkins with Devry's Brother and his wife. We had fun. Devry did his Michigan M pumpkin (of course...just like every year :) ) And I did a very attractive puking pumpkin.

Here are a few more pictures of our little cutie!

Trip to Nova Scotia

Our trip to Nova Scotia was so much fun! I hadn't been home in over 2 years, and was so excited to see my friends and family. They loved meeting Payton. I was a bit nervous to travel alone with Payton. It went really well though. Devry drove us to Salt lake the night before our flight, and we stayed in a hotel. At 4am we went to the aiport, checked in, said goodbye to daddy and went through security. Right away I experienced how much people help you out when you have a baby. So many airport and airline workers stopped to offer help. I rarely needed it, but it was so nice that people are so willing to help you out. When we checked into the flights, the agent always switched my seat so I would have an empty seat next to me. That was so helpful so I could lay him on it to sleep or keep the diaper bag there for easy access. I borded our flights before anyone else and got settled before the rush. Payton was great. We had 3 flights (2 layovers in dallas and New York) He ate while we took off and slept the rest of the flight. During our flight from Dallas to NY, he fussed for about 45 minutes, but then fell asleep. It was a long day, and I was so relieved when we arrived in Halifax.

The first week I spent at my moms house. It was so nice to have her help with Payton, and to just visit with her. She couldn't get over how much he had changed in the 7 weeks since she had seen him. I love my mom so much, and miss being close to her. She knows me so well, and it is so easy to talk to her. The week I spent with her and Trent was so much fun.

Payton with his Nanny and Grampa Trent

We drove to visit my Grandparents. Payton and I stayed with my Nanny for a couple of days, which was so nice! My Grampie was in the hospital, so we visited him a few times.

Payton with My nanny

Here is a picture of 4 generations, My Nanny, My mom, Me and Payton

My mom and Trent were in the process of buying a house right on the ocean, so they took me to see it. I didn't get to see the inside since they hadn't closed on it, but I am excited to see it next time we go. It will be such a fun place for Payton when he is older. I grew up close to the ocean, and my granparents had a cottage right on the Bay of Fundy. I have so many great memories of playing on the rocks, having bonfires, feeding seagulls, collecting treasures brought in by the tide, and enjoying time with my grandparents. I know Payton will get to experience the same things I did growing up, and that is so exciting for me.

Payton in his stroller in front of my moms new house.

We also drove to New Glascow to visit my Aunt Kim and Uncle Brian. It was so nice to see them, and I was so excited for them to meet Payton. My Aunt Kim has always been so special to me. She is a Nurse, and was such a great example to me.

My mom invited some of my friends over one evening that I was with her. It was kind of a mini baby shower, since I wasn't home when I was pregnant. Some of my closest friends came to meet Payton. We had so much fun talking and catching up all evening. They are so thoughtful and brought Payton gifts.

Nadine, Cora, Jocelyn, Ashley, me and Payton.

My mom made pies for us! So yummy!

Opening gifts. Thanks Guys!

After my wonderful week with my mom, Payton and I went to my dad's for the next week. My dad was so excited to meet his Grandson. It was so nice to see him and Elizabeth. We did lots of fun things during the week, including spending the night in their 2nd home in Parsborro (on the ocean). They bought this house since I've been home, and it was fun to see.

Payton with his Grampie

Payton with Grampie and Nan

Jasmine came home from school for thanksgiving, and spent almost a week with me! We are so close and had a blast together! We did lots of shopping, talking, and late night Tim horton and macdonalds runs :) She loved getting to know Payton. Here are some fun pictures of Payton with jassy and others.

After two weeks of being away from Devry, I was so excited to see him when he arrived late friday night. He had been so busy working and was ready for a week break. We were so busy the last week of the trip. Saturday, the 10th we had our first thanksgiving dinner, at my dads. I LOVE canadian thanksgiving, and loved seeing family. Here are some pictures.

Payton with my nanny. (My dad's mom)

Payton and my Aunt Cindy

Payton and My Uncle Gerald

Payton and my cousin Michelle

Me and my nanny.

4 Generations.... My nanny, my dad, me and Payton

This is Payton with my baby sister Kayleigh. She is 8 years old and has grown so much since I saw her last! She is so excited to have a Nephew.

After thanksgiving with my dad, we went to my moms house for our 2nd Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. I love and miss my moms cooking and enjoyed the meal so much! Because of my Grampie being in the hospital, we didn't have a big extended family thanksgiving like we normally do, but having a small dinner with my mom, trent, jassy, Devry, Payton and me was wonderful!

On Thanksgiving monday, my mom didnt have to work, so we drove down to see my grampie in the hospital, visit with my nanny and go to the shore again to show Devry and Jasmine the new house.

Everyone visiting my Grampie. He was being discharged the next day. It was such a miracle to see him so well. He went into the hospital a few days after Payton was born, and was in the ICU for over 2 months. He was in very criticle condition, and we weren't sure if he would come out of it. I was so happy to see him. I saw him a week and a half before this, and saw a huge improvement in that short of time.

This is one of my favorite pictures. Payton with my Grampie. Both smiling. Payton has my grampie's bright blue eyes, and I love it! I am so glad that Grampie got to meet him.

At the shore and my moms house. It was quite windy and cold that day. Payton was all bundled up inside my coat.

After a fun few days with my mom, we went back to my dads. We went and stayed at their house in Parsborro again. We did some sight seeing (which unfortunately caused Devry some very bad motion sickness from all the driving).

I love the ocean!

We had a great trip! It was so fun to visit with family and see Nova Scotia. Here are a few more

random pictures.

Beautiful fall colors. You don't see these colors in Idaho. I love the trees and beauty of NS.

We had a very smooth flight back to Salt lake City. Payton was PERFECT. He slept through every flight. It was nice to have Devry's help. We arrived in salt lake very late, and stayed in a hotel. Here is Payton enjoying some football in the hotel before we drove back to Idaho.....I love my little guy!