Put a smile on your face

This past weekend we went to Idaho to spend some of our Spring Break with family, and to attend Baby Bryker's blessing. It was a good family weekend.


Here is one of the best highlights from the weekend.
I hope it puts a smile on your face!!

Happy Birthday MUM!

Today is my Mummy's birthday. (I don't love the word Mother, so i call her Mom, or Mum) I am truly truly blessed to have the mom that i do. There are not enough words to thank her for all that she's done; i am so grateful for her support, and everything she does for me. My mom is generous enough to watch Kendal most afternoons so that i can work, and Casey can student teach / lesson plan. She loves Kendal so much, and i know Kendal loves going over to play. My mom is a great example to me. I want to be as awesome a mom as she has been to me. She taught me so much growing up and i have her to thank for my sewing skills, cooking skills, love for the gospel, good nature, love for others, collecting (her - peanut's cartoons, me - blankets), and much much more. She is a strong beautiful Lady and i'm lucky to have her as my MUM!

Happy Birthday Mum, may all your wishes come true!

Looking forward to

- I am really looking forward to conference this weekend. Conference is always something i look forward to. I really enjoy the inspired messages that are given, and many which usually have a lot of meaning to me. I love hearing the stories, parables, messages, and spiritual inspiration. I can't wait to chill out at home this weekend and listen to conference (hopefully Kendal will let me listen).
- I am looking forward to Casey graduating. It's getting closer, just a little over over a month and Casey gets to sport his cap and gown and take that proud, long anticipated walk. We are both looking forward to Casey's career as a teacher. No job's yet, but Casey is putting himself out there and hopefully before long we'll know where we'll be this fall.
- I am looking forward to warmer weather. Winter is so cold, long, and dreary. I am anxious for some warm days that i can take Kendal out for walks, and play. I cannot wait for warm sunny days!

Now for the important part. Pics of Kendal.

Sweet 16!

Kendal is so grown up; today she is sixteen (months old)! Kendal is an entertaining, energetic little one. This past month brought the major milestone of walking. It took a while to start, but now she has the hang of things Kendal is just walking everywhere. She has such a fun personality, she loves to mimic sounds (animals mostly), and her vocabulary is expanding daily. Kendal has had a few teeth pop out this month. She's now up to nine teeth, and she's working on her second and third molars right now. : ( Kendal is so curious about everything; she has to touch it, take it apart, eat it, and talk to it. It's funny some of the things she gets into. She'll take our keys and roam the house trying to put them into every door / hole she can find. Church has become a bit difficult lately. Kendal just wants to socialize with everyone, get into their stuff, take the other kids things, and talk constantly. Luckily we have nursery to look forward to in a couple of months. I can't wait for the warm weather coming up so we can go for walks, swing, and other fun things. Kendal sure is turning into a fun little girl full of pizazz, and she sure is sweet for 16 (months)!

My Disappointed Book Lover

Casey is an avid reader. Give him a good book and he would rather read it than do anything else (which includes reading important textbooks for school). I always know that if i'm stumped for a gift for Casey i can always get him a book off of his wish list and he'll be happy. He is such a smart guy, and i know his love for reading has been a big part of his successes in school. Casey and i have been very diligent in our reading with Kendal. She has gone through well over twenty chapter books with me, and countless picture books since she was born. She prefers books to TV. She'll unload our bookshelf in pursuit of her favorite books (Hippos go Berserk, Piggies, The little white owl, etc.), she'll drag them over to Casey or i and say up, eas and make us read them to her. I enjoy seeing her interest in books, and believe she's already a book worm.
So why is my Husband a Disappointed book lover? Well, we recently found out that the only major book store in Logan, Border's is closing this spring. Border's is a favorite shopping spot for us. Back when we were dating if i got off work and wanted to know where Casey was i would just have to go to Border's. Casey loved to go sit and read whenever he wanted, it was a great way to read his favorite books without having to buy them. So, i can say is sad to see such a great store leave. I think i better tell him to go there today and pick up some discount books for my disappointed book lover.

Aye Aye Aye

As this last semester has hit it's peak Casey is realizing his student days are coming to an end. Saturday we went to our last Basketball game (as student's, Casey still hopes to go a game or two every year if we can). Basketball is one of the few sports Casey and i share an interest in. We have never liked sitting with the students during a game. We've always chosen to sit off to the side where we don't have to stand for the majority of the game. It's been a fun Aggie tradition that we've shared for the past five years and it will be sad next year when Casey can't go to any game he wants. Also i'll miss singing "Aye Aye Aye" with the song during each game (It's a little thing Casey and i do).
Casey has reached the middle of his semester Student Teaching. He has had positive reviews from both teachers and his evaluator. He still feels a bit nervous sometimes, but i know he's doing awesome, and will be a wonderful teacher. Casey is enjoying the subjects he gets to teach (Geography, and Ancient Civ. history). The kids are challenging, they keep him on his toes, and he's learning a lot from them. We'll see if in the next month or so Casey can get himself out there, interview, and hopefully land a job so we know where life is taking us.
Can't forget Kendal. Kendal is walking now. It's not constantly, but lately she's walking more than crawling. She's also picking up words every day. This little girl is a born talker. It's funny to hear her say some things, but they are so cute coming out of her mouth. Ap Ap (Apple), iper (diaper), os (nose), oose (shoes)Tank u (thank you), up, gwampa (grandpa), ama (grandma {doesn't say this often}), hi, ease (please), and a few more. She also will talk on the cell phone, however it's only to herself, whenever someone else talks to her she just stares at it and smiles). Can't wait to see the many more fun things Kendal will do next!
My mom and i went to a baby shower this past weekend for a dear friend of mine. My mom's advice to the mother to be was to keep up with journaling, and record memories of the child's life. My mom had Calendars for each child as we grew up. Each year is chuck full of memories, milestones, and just general happenings of what we did as kids. I am so grateful for the effort and thought my mom put into all of those, because it is a precious momento of my younger years. I don't do as well with Kendal's memories, but i do consider this blog a way of journaling and putting down to memory the milestones, and happenings going on with Kendal and in my life.
So, in remembrance of all the fun memories at USU, and games Casey and i have been to over these past few years, i just have to say "Aye Aye Aye".

Love you . . .

Casey, Kendal and i treked up to Idaho this past weekend to see some of our wonderful family. We celebrated my nephew Davids first birthday on Saturday. He's grown so much (as all little ones tend to do). David is walking all over and doing so much. He enjoyed his first cake, however he didn't enjoy the haircut that followed.

Love you David




Today we got to meet the newest member of the Darrington clan. Little Bryker. He is adorable, sweet, cute, and perfect. (almost makes me want another baby, ALMOST not yet people) We enjoyed our time with him, unfortunately Kendal had a minor fever, and some major jealousy issues going on. Kendal was not happy when i had Bryker in my arms. It made me laugh because i've never seen her so possessive of me. Anyway it was good to meet Bryker and welcome him to the family.

Love you Bryker




Kendal my little sweet pea. will be fifteen months old this week. She's made a lot of progress with walking this past month, however she knows that she can get places faster crawling so her desire to walk hasn't matched mine yet. Kendal's personality is blossoming, she has such a fun a quirky way about her. She makes me laugh everyday by the little things she does. Kendal is picking up on words. Sometimes she repeats a random word i've said, and some she just says all the time like ba boo (peek-a-boo) or eas (please). I keep saying it but time does fly when you have little ones. I'm so happy Kendal is in my life and i love watching her grow and flourish.

Love you Kendal




Casey the love of my life, my eternal companion, my soul mate. Happy Valentines Day! I count my blessings every day so thankful that i have Casey in my life. He is my rock and my true love. I'm so proud of him and all that he does. Casey is doing his student teaching. He's really enjoying his subjects (Ancient History, and Geography).

Love you Casey



Can't forget my amazing family. I'm so happy to have the family i do in my life. I love everyone and am so thankful for their love and support they give me and my family.

Love you Family