Back in Idaho

I've been getting a lot of grief from family and friends because I haven't posted anything new in a while. I have a valid excuse--we moved and we have misplaced our camera. I can't put any pictures on the blog until it is found, so please don't yell at me anymore! Sniff, sniff.

Our lives are quite different now that we're back in Rexburg. Joel is back in school, but taking 10.5 credits in night classes. He works full time at Lucky Tee Golf as a regional sales rep. He also works a couple days a week with his brothers at Gorgeous Garage and so he stays very busy. Joel does so much for us! We are both also trying to place 14 candy machines in Rexburg that we bought in California for extra income.

As for me, I sit at home and watch soap operas and eat Lindor truffles at all hours of the day because that's what mom's do! Okay, not really. I keep busy while Lillia is awake, but when she naps I've found that I do have some free time. Lately I've been improving the home, reading, water coloring, and learning how to crochet baby socks. I just recently talked to a baby store owner and asked if she would sell baby items for me in her new store. She said that if she liked them, she would. This week I am going to make baby bracelets and maybe socks. I'll take them to her and see what she thinks. I am also going to try to do three portraits for Christmas to help out while Joel is still in school.

We've been having a lot of fun in Rexburg with several of our family members around. We see Abbie and Jordan, Autumn and Joe and kids, Ross and Heidi, and Kris and his girlfriend Lindsey often throughout the week. Most of our friends have graduated, so we have to build them up again. I still have two favorite friends here--Hannah and Jessica, but I'm missing Amber and Dan, Jelaire, Michele and Taylor! I also miss my other absent family members. We should start a Smith/Nielson/Petty community here is Rexburg! Better yet, lets relocate to Crete.

Lilly isn't growing quite as fast, but she's developing more of a personality. At church yesterday, I held her on my lap and faced her towards a little one-year-old girl in our ward. Lilly laughed so hard (I thought she was crying!) for several minutes at this little girl who was only looking at her. It was so funny! Lilly doesn't laugh much, but she definitely thought the toddler was amusing.
Lillia started doing push-up's recently, too. She's eager to look around, so she pushes herself up to do so. She should start sitting up on her own soon.
When I took Lilly to Dr. Watson (my brother-in-law), he said she was in the 89th percentile for height, the 70th for weight, and 30th for head size. So she's tall, slightly chunky, and has a little noggin.

We love our mobile home. It is so nice to have our own place. I love the fact that any home improvements that I do will only increase its value or at least keep it the same so we don't end up losing a lot more in the end. It is so quiet in our place and it has more room than any place I've lived since leaving home. I finally have a yard! I am actually excited to have a garden next year which is strange because I HATED our garden growing up. We have a waterfall in our yard, two swings, several trees and it is landscaped. Not too long ago we even discovered that we have strawberries growing outside.

I think this is all the major stuff. Are you happy Charity and Amber?! I hope so. Thanks for taking an interest in our lives!