Hidden Treasures

We live just a few minutes away from a train station, busy roads, stores etc. Sometimes I crave nature and the peace and comfort it brings. Well, a week ago we went for a little walk and decided to go check out the train station. Turns out on the other side of the train station there is an AWESOME little park! Nature trail, creek, ducks, lots of trees, bridge and to top it all off a play ground at the end of the trail. I was so so happy when we found this place. How lucky am to have such a neat place just a few minutes away. I felt like a was at the end of treasure hunt. A little tender mercy from the Lord for Torrey. :) Kanyin and I enjoy walking there now. The only tricky and entertaining part of our walks is getting down and up the stairs with the stroller to get across the train station. Usually there are really nice people who feel bad for me and help me out. 

 

Amish Country

When we found out we were moving to Pennsylvania, one of the first things on our "to do list" was visit the Amish Country. We decided to check this adventure off our list one of the first weekends we were out here, and it was such a blast! We can't wait to go back. We did the whole buggy ride, market, and shopping thing. The neatest part was driving through the back roads and seeing all the farms. Many of the farms had signs out by their driveways that said things like "peppers for sale" or "free kittens." We decided to give it a try and we went to one family's shop (which was in their house). They sold cheese, quilts, medicine, clothes etc. It was so neat talking to Katie (the wife and owner of the store). We talked to her about the area and how they live. Such a unique and simple life style. No electricity, no cars etc (for the most part). Each district is alittle different. It seemed that most had the standard that you can not have wires, cables etc. running into your home, symbolizing the ways of the world. Anyways..it was a fun adventure and we would highly recommend it if ever you come out east.

I am not sure why there is a tractor in the background

After our buggy ride

You don't see these around to often

In Katie's quilt shop

Once I put this on her, I HAD to buy it! Is that not the cutest thing you have ever seen?

In the market tasting some jams. Poor Kanyin doesn't look very comfortable, but at least she's sleeping

Race Time!

Birthday Time

September is here once again, which means it is birthday month! Shawn took me to the Cheese Cake Factory for my birthday. I know..so fancy. We justified it saying that since both our birthdays are in September it would be "our" birthday dinner :) I turned 26 this year which was a hard one for me to swallow. I don't know why...I think because I feel like 30 is not that far away and that is just weird! 
Thank you to the Butlers for taking care of Kanyin for us while we went out. She is going through some separation anxiety right now, so they deserve a million bucks for dealing with that.

For two weeks, I was 26 and Shawn was 25. That is always a fun two weeks to give him a hard time. He always turns it around and says I will turn 50 first, then 60 first and so on...which he does have a point.
We started his day off with breakfast in bed. That was fun to watch since he didn't have his contacts in and there was a squirmy 7 month old helping him. I didn't realize Shawn was so blind till I asked him if we was going to eat his egg and he said, "there's an egg on here!" 
His birthday was on a Sunday so breakfast in bed was short and sweet, then off to church. After church we had a yummy dinner and then had friends over for cake and ice cream.  

Breakfast in bed for the birthday boy!

Kanyin loved helping her Dad open his presents. Actually she just thought the newspaper tasted good

26 candles!!

The birthday celebration ended in some bedtime stories

Talk talk talk

Kanyin started saying "mamama" when she is mad or crying. So cute!

Moving across the USA

P.A. (Physicians Assistant) School is very competitive right now. Shawn applied to six schools and we didn't really think that much would come of it since it was later in the year to apply etc. Last December, Shawn got an email from Salus University in Philadelphia wanting an interview. We were so excited! Once he got to Philly is when they told him that they already filled all the seats for the class, these interviews were to get onto the "stand by" list per say. That was a bummer when we found that out and we lost hope of our chances. After much prayer we decided that if we didn't get into P.A. school, we would stay in Rexburg for another year since we both has good jobs and Shawn could build up patient hours and apply again for the following year. Of course you plan out your life and then usually Heavenly Father has other ideas. :) Well, in late May, Shawn got an email for Salus saying a spot opened up and they offered him a spot in the Fall 2012 class! We were both nervous since we had our minds set on staying in Rexburg, and moving across the country away from our families with a new baby made us sad. At the same time we felt extremely blessed and knew this path was for us. Moving across the country is expensive! We stored some of our things at Shawn's parents house and decided just to bring our essentials. So we packed up and off we went. Of course we turned our move into an awesome trip across the country. It was so neat to see all the different states and meet so many people. I decided to make a movie out of our little adventure. I have to apologive, because after I finished the video and watched it, I thought to myself, "wow that is alot of video of our baby!" We just love her so much though I can't help it. I am so glad we did get some good documentation so we can show this to her when she is older.

Election Time!

Four years ago I was on my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, so I didn't hear much about  the election. The election before that I was in high school and didn't care as much as I do now. I have to say, I really enjoyed watching the first presidential debate the other night. I found myself excited to see more. One thing I don't like is how negative politics can be. I understand that is how it goes, but I think more positive aspects can be brought out.

During all this I found that I am more grateful to be an American and live in this country. So many people do not have the freedoms we enjoy, and I love that we have the right to vote for our leaders and the people play such a huge role.

I hope and pray for our country, our troops and leaders. What an exciting time this is. 

I loved the Mitt Romney video that was played at the RNC. It's important to see how a man has become the way he is.