Snow Snow Snow....Even in Southern California!

Well, it looks like we made it out of Spokane just in the nick of time!  We left Wednesday morning and on Thrusday Spokane got a good 22 inches of snow.  The airport closed down, the buses did not run, only 3 major streets were open and even Gonzaga canceled classes!  However, Southern California is not much better!  We got into Ontario around 12:30.  It took my parents about 3 hours to get to the airport (normally only about an hour drive) because roads were closed due to.....you guessed it...SNOW!  Can you believe it?! Snow in the desert of Southern California!  Anyway, we were on our wayand at about 15 minutes from home we discovered the road was VERY VERY dangerous.  My parents live in the high desert at about 3200 feet.  My dad has a big Chevy Silverado and even he was slipping around on the road.  They were only letting cars contiue that had snow chains (who has snow chains in California?) So, after trying to get home for quite a while, we realized it would not be safe or wise to continue so we had to go stay in a Motel 6 in Palm Springs.  That is the 2nd time in 3 months that Bryant and I have had to turn around and stay in a hotel due to bad weather.  I think we curse everything with bad weather!

We finally made it home around 1:00 pm yesterday

(Thursday).  The roads are very slick still and even school for my mom was canceled 3 days in a row.  I know that doesn't seem that weird to many of you (in Idaho and Utah especially) but you have to remember this is SOUTHERN CALI.  It hasn't snowed this much since 1970 supposedly!  Anyway, we are here safe and sound and enjoying every minute of it!  Here are some pictures we took of the all the snow that fell in the Yucca Valley desert!  Hope you enjoy!  

One Quarter down, Ten to Go!

Finally!!! Bryant is officially done with his first quarter of school!  Poor guy was up til 3:30 this morning studying for his last two finals he took today.  He was struggling in one of his classes and really needed to do well on his final...and he did!  He is at the moment still enjoying a very long and much needed nap (so far it's lasted about 4 hours).  He has worked very hard, and I am very proud of him.  Now that we are both in the groove of this whole grad school business, hopefully it will get better.  We are very much looking forward to a few days together--school/study free, and then for our holiday trips to California and Boise!  We hope you are all enjoying your holiday's so far!

Happy Holidays!

Wow, I can't believe Thanksgiving has already come and gone and Christmas is just around the corner.  Bryant has finals this week and we are both very excited to get them over with!  Grad school continues to be more intense than I imagined!  He spends upwards of 60-70 hours on campus every week and then studies some more when he gets home.  Needless to say with his demanding schedule I feel like a single parent most of the time.  We are looking forward to the break which we get to spend with family this year!  It will be a first for us since we haven't spend a Christmas with anyone since we've been married.  

Thanksgiving was nice.  We stayed her in Spokane and had a kid that Bry goes to school with over.  That was really fun.  They are LDS too and have 2 little kids.  We all get along really well.  Plus, we will be together for the next 3 years and it's nice to have a support system.  I made the turkey again this year which I must say turned out very well.  I did get a really grossed out when I had to take the neck and stuff out and even had a weird dream that the turkey had a face and a name!  So, I had a hard time eating it, but it smelled really good!  Besides Thanksgiving Day, Bryant spend his Thanksgiving break (including Saturday) on campus. 

We also just found out that Bryant will be doing his first 5 week internship this summer in Kuna!  I'm kind of sad that he has to leave Grace and I for 5 whole weeks, but it's good that he gets to be with his parents and the rest of the Boise clan.  Plus, he will get to see Pamela, Ryan, Bayden and Baby Turner #2 a bit before they head off to Dallas this summer.  

Gracie is getting soooo big!  I put her 0-3 month clothes away the beginning of November.  She is so much fun now.  She has recently started laughing AT me!  I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later!  We also moved her into her own room about a month ago which was a big step for her and an even bigger step for her Mommy!  I think we actually both sleep better now though!

I haven't downloaded any pictures from the camera to the computer recently, but her is a new picture of Gracie on the beautiful (hand stitched) quilt her Grandma Howard made her.  I will download more pics and get them posted.  

We hope you are all enjoying your Holiday Season so far!  

She's FINALLY Blessed!!!!

We went to Boise this weekend for a second try at getting Gracie blessed....and this time it worked!!!  It was very nice to have family and friends to share this very special occasion with us! I was very sad that my parents were unable to be there, but Bryant's entire family was there.  Even his Grandma and Grandpa Howard came! We also had some very very good friends come.  Ryan, Carissa and Ashlyn Littleford  were there (Bry and Ryan have been best friends for a long time) and Kyler, Holly and Brynlee Erhard were also there (Kyler and Bry were missionary companions and also very good friends).  My wonderful sister Kristin also made it for the occasion.  She went to school all day Saturday at Paul Mitchell, then went to work until 9:00 P.M. and then drove from Rexburg to Boise getting in around 3:00 in the morning.  Talk about a good sister!  I loved having her there.  She also gave Maren and Grandma Howard (that's Bryant's mom's name now!) the cutest haircuts!  I will see if I can post a "before and after" picture of their do's.  

Anyway, Gracie was sooooo good for her blessing.  She didn't cry at all and she didn't even need her binki!  I think Bryant gave her a very sweet blessing.  We are so grateful she is part of our lives.  Here are a few pictures of her special day. 

Gracie with Aunt Pamela

The Littleford's, The Erhard's and The Howard's

The Howard siblings and their families

Bryant, April, Grandma and Grandpa Howard and Great Grandma and Grandpa Howard and Gracie

All the men in the blessing circle: Kyler Erhard, Bryant with Gracie, Ryan Littleford, Jeff Howard, Great Grandpa Howard, Ryan Turner, Grandpa Howard, Randy Hanson

She's one cute chick!

Gracie was a chicken for Halloween this year!  And, she was by far the cutest chicken I've ever seen!  We did not do the trick or treating thing of course, but the costume is important for the "1st Halloween" picture! I know it looks huge on her, but her legs actually did about reach the bottom.  She is a very tall baby (in the 90th percentile for height in fact) plus, it only cost 5 bucks!