Sunbeams

I thought I would add a cute picture of Shawn with our little Sunbeam class. Shawn and I have been the Sunbeam teachers in our ward for the last 18 months and we love it! We have the cutest little class and we get to teach the funnest lessons...most of all I like to spend my whole day at church with Shawn teaching together!

Happy Birthday Shawn!!!

Shawn turned 24 on Sunday, since it was Sunday we didn't go out and do anything wild or crazy but it was kind of nice to have a nice and relaxing day together. We went to church then came home and had BBQ ribs for dinner, Shawn got to open a few gifts then his mom and sister and her family came over to play, Ticket to Ride (Shawn's favorite game) and for some cupcakes and ice cream.

Shawn with his new remote control car that he picked out himself for his birthday
Shawn after opening some gifts from my parents, some of his favorite treats and his favorite game, Ticket to Ride.

Happy Birthdayto the BEST husband ever!!!

Rexburg Weekend

This past weekend, Shawn, Brock, and I all drove up to Rexburg to go to our really good family friend and Brocks best friend since they were 5 years old, Adam Hassell's wedding. We left Friday straight from work and dropped Brock off with some friends and Shawn and I got to stay with Mike Shirts, one of our really good mission friends. We spent Saturday sleeping in and then hanging out with our friend. That evening we caught up with Brock again and headed to the reception in Manan, Idaho. A small farming town outside of Rexburg. The reception was great, we had a good time and we were happy to go and support the Hassell family. Shawn and I also had a good time getting to talk with Brock to and from Rexburg since he is in Pennsylvania, selling for APX for the summer and we never get to talk to him anymore. We got home around 1 pm Saturday night and went straight to bed since we had to wake up at 6:30 to take Brock to the airport the next morning so he could fly back to PA.
We also loved getting to see both the Idaho Falls Temple and the Rexburg Temple while in Idaho.
Brock and Adam at the reception

Kalee, Brocky, Adam, Me, and Shawn
Kalee, Brock, Shawn, Me, and Karen Hassell (Adam's mom) eating at the reception

Idaho Falls Temple

Mike and Shawn

Shawn and I by the beautiful falls in front of the Idaho Falls Temple

Brock thought it would be funny to buy Shawn a huge 3 pound turkey leg at a gas station during our 4 hour drive to Rexburg. We all ate some as our dinner-and it actually tasted pretty good.

Shawn with the Turkey leg.

St. George Weekend

A few weekends ago Shawn and headed down south to St George for a nice and warm little get-away. We have some great cousins that let us stay at their vacation house. While we were down there we got to go and spend a few hours on Saturday visiting one of my very best friends and old roommate, Cheryl, and her husband and 2 adorable little girls (Cheryl and I spent the day together and I cant believe that neither of us got our cameras out for pictures...I wish we would have). The rest of our time was spent relaxing, going on bike rides, swimming, reading and eating Lucky Charms and In & Out. We also got to stop by to see Shawn's Grandpa Nielsen (who I had never meet before).
We had such a great weekend together. Thanks Woodleys & Vonks!
Drying off after a swim-it was nice and warm Shawn in the pool

Riding bikes (they have the best beach cruiser bikes) we love riding them all around the trails, parks, and tunnels

Shawn with his beach cruiser

Quick trip home to Oregon

I got to come out to Oregon for the last few days before both Shawn and I headed back home to Utah. I was happy to have my husband back after so many days apart and I always have a good time visiting home.
Blake and Savannah just moved back to Oregon the week before I flew out-they are moving into one of my dads houses that is actually about a 4 minuet walk from my parents house on the farm (my mom is very excitied to start having her kids move back home). So, after Shawn got done shadowing for the dentist he spent alot of time helping Blake gut his house and get ready for a lot of remodeling. We also went and watched one of Kyle's track meets where he got 4th place throwing the shot put against 13 other schools. We had a family kickball game with some aunts, uncles, and cousins, and then we got to help my mom celebrate Mothers Day on Sunday. Savannah and I made a yummy halibut dinner that we ate with both sets of grandparents. It is so fun having both grandparents live so close-we love to see them when we come home to visit.
Here is a pic of Shawn roller blading with our cousin, Jade. Shawn helping Blake tile one of his bathroom floors in his new house

Kyle throwing the shot put

And a picture of Kyle at his track meet, we arrived just in time to watch him throw.

We loved visiting Oregon...like always!

Gone...for 17 days!

Shawn looking handsome in his scrubs-getting ready for a day in the dentist office.

The day after winter semester finals got over Brock, Shawn, and our cousin, Brandalyn, all drove back home to Oregon. Shawn was going back with them to stay in Oregon with my family for 17 days to shadow some dentist-while I stayed in Utah to work- all by myself.

Shawn has to have 150+hours shadowing dentist before he can apply to Dental Schools next Summer, so we decided to have him start now. We have 2 good family friends back in Oregon that Shawn got to go and shadow-he really enjoyed himself and learned alot from both of them.

The same weekend that Brock and Shawn got home to Oregon happened to be the same weekend that our home Stake was having Stake Conference. This happened to be a special Stake Conference because an Apostle and a member of the Seventy were going to be staying at my parents house and speaking at Stake Conference. So, Shawn and my family at home got to spend the weekend with Elder Nelson and his son-in-law and newly call Seventy, Elder Christensen. Everyone had commented on the amazing weekend they had in the presence of one of the Apostles. I now regret not going home for the weekend too.

Shawn was thoroughly enjoying himself at home in Oregon with my family and I was counting down the days and thoroughly not enjoying my days at home in Utah as a widow. I do NOT like being home by myself and I especially do NOT like being at home at night alone. As, much as I did not like my days alone...I did survive!

Here is Shawn getting in the car and ready to drive the 11-12 hour back to Oregon...

Cute Brocky with his new glasses-getting ready to head to Oregon, after his first semester of college after his mission

My dad, Elder Christensen, Elder Nelson, Brock, Shawn, and Kyle after Stake Conference Sunday afternoon.

I am happy Shawn was able to go to Oregon and to get some experience and some hours shadowing (and my family all loved having his there as well) but I am happy to have him home with ME!

Back at the end of March and first of April we got the sad news that my younger cousin, Adam, who had just celebrated his 24th birthday had passed away. It was very sudden and a shock to everyone. There was a ton of support from all of our family. All of our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents flew in to Utah for the funeral. The next few days were spent together with all of our family.
I have only been to 2 funerals in my life-so I was not to sure what to expect. But the service was beautiful and the love and support from everyone was amazing.
Although it was a very sad experience that brought us all together-it was so great to see all of my immediate and extended family. It is so great to have such a close extended family that loves and cares so much for each other.
Shawn, Kara, and Brock sitting together at the viewing

Kara, Grandma Nelson, Diane, and Lisa at the family get-together in Park City.

Thomas, Davis, Brocky, and I at the family get-together in Park City. I am so grateful for the testimony that I have of the Plan of Salvation and the knowledge I have of knowing that Adam is in a better place in Heaven and that we will all get to see him again and that not only are we all together as a family here on the earth but that we will all be sealed together forever!!!