Guess What?!

We got a new piano!!! Okay so before you think
"Oh my goodness, they got a new piano being college students? They must have a lot of money or are going into major debt!" just know that there is a really cool story to go along with this because we definitely aren't in debt and we definitely don't have money to get something like this right now!


Alright so here's the story. The summer after Hyrum and I got married we went to a yard sale and saw this pretty decent piano. The musicians in us decided to just ask how much it was because we weren't planning on buying any type of piano until after we were out of school. The lady we asked told us to make them an offer and a reason why we would want the piano. She handed us a notebook of others who made them an offer and their reasons on the piano as well. $500, $400, $625 were all some of the offers. We were thinking we could make an offer of $250 just to see since that's all we could really put towards a piano at that time and weren't expecting any calls for that low of an offer anyway. Well about 1/2 hour later once we got home we got a phone call saying that they wanted to give us the piano for $250!! We were shocked and amazed and so excited! They delivered it to our apartment later that day and we gave them a check for the offer we made. We felt like it was such a steal of a deal. Later we got it tuned and it was in perfect condition. We enjoyed playing it very often.

Recently, we sold that piano for $900. We sold it for a couple different reasons but the main reason was because we wanted to get a digital piano. Hyrum and I both write music and a digital piano is better for recording and writing out our music. Hyrum is writing out a Christmas Program about Christ all with music and a digital piano is the best way he can accomplish that dream of his. So as we were looking at music stores every now and then, last week we came across the one that was delivered to us today. The price the sales man gave it to us was for $899! Pretty much the same price we sold our piano for. We feel so blessed and humbled to be able to come across the perfect one for us. We feel that the Lord brought us to it in his time and will seeing as it was the perfect opportunity, perfect price and perfect piano. It definitely has been fun and now we'll be able to both pursue our talents and dreams. We're definitely blessed to not have to pay anything for this wonderful investment!

I know this is long enough but the feature that I am most excited for on this piano is the capabilities it has to write out the notes for you after you record and play a song! This is something that I have been looking into for a long time. I may have a strength in writing music, but I have a major weakness in knowing how to write out on paper the songs that I do write. You would think after taking 3 Theory classes, it would have helped me, but I just can't do it so this piano is going to help me go further than I could otherwise! I better end this blog now so thanks for listening and I'll be posting some music of mine on here soon enough!

Ewww....Sick!

Kyla was really sick for a couple days this week. Now by sick I mean throwing up and everything. We didn't think she had the flu because for awhile she was her normal self but then threw up everything she ate. She got worse as it went and was up all night throwing up every couple hours (sorry if this is all to gruesome for you!) Being first parents, Hyrum and I were scared because we had no idea what to do with a really sick kid! We were mostly worried about keeping her hydrated but it was hard since she wouldn't eat or drink anything at all...not even Popsicles! We took her to the doctor yesterday when she was not acting herself and they took some blood and found out that she had a minor bacterial infection (not the flu) but didn't know what it was from, how she caught it, or what could have happened. Since the infection wasn't too bad, the doctor didn't put her on any medications and said her body is fighting this on its own. To help the uneasy stomach though, they ended up giving her a shot of something to help keep her food down better. He said it would make her pretty sleepy all day. Right he was! She was pretty lethargic all day and slept for 5 hours straight. PLUS went to bed really early and slept 12 hours at night (waking up every now and then and once to throw up). Today she is a LOT better and is actually eating her favorite foods and keeping it down. Yay! She's slept a little more than usual today and hasn't eaten TOO much so she's not 100% back to normal but it's getting better. Hopefully tonight and tomorrow will be even a bigger improvement and she'll be completely herself in the morning.

I took these pictures of her when she was sleeping yesterday. She is so sweet.

Valentines Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day! I sure did. Hyrum is always so sweet to me. Through out the day he sent me emails telling me how much he loved me and attached to the emails were poems, songs, or pictures that fit what he was saying. It was perfect for me and very cute. The very last email was our wedding song and then he gave me a very beautiful heart necklace. We went out to dinner last night too. It was just a wonderful day! I love him so much and continue to fall in love with him everyday. He is my everything. Here are some pictures we took.



Kyla and I were inspired by our friend, Diana (thanks!) to paint our toenails to match! Kyla loved it and gets so excited everytime she sees her toes now.



Here's both of our feet!



This is our family Valentine picture! We took it ourself so it's not the best, but it turned out pretty good for the most part!



Here's Kyla and I!

Temple Dedication

Sunday, February 10th, 2008 was the Rexburg Idaho Temple Dedication. It was beautiful and wonderful. We found out a couple weeks ago that we had the wonderful opportunity to be in the temple during the dedication and we have felt humble, greatful and blessed for the marvelous opportunity ever since. We were able to be in one of the sealing rooms while watching the event on TV screens. Pres. Monson dedicated the temple and was present for the first two sessions (there were 4 sessions total) and left after that. We attended the 4th and final session so he wasn't present in our session but the Spirit was still there and it was still a wonderful occasion. Elder Nelson and Elder Bednar from the twelve along with Elder Costa from the 70 were there and they all spoke. Pres. Clark (president of BYU-Idaho), Sis Bednar, 1st Presideny's Secretary, the person who oversees all the temples, and the temple presidents counselor and matron's assistant all spoke. At the conclusion of the dedication we all sang the Spirit of God and I was touched so deeply and felt the Spirit so strongly. I know that the Rexburg Temple along with every other dedicated temple out there in the world is the Lord's house and that he can and has come to His home. I hope my life and my home can be as pure as it can be so the Savior would be able to enter into my home without any hesitation is my goal. In the words of Elder Bednar in his talk for the dedication: "I love to see the temple, I'm going there now!" I love this Gospel and I know that it is true!

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged...TWICE! The first is 6 random facts about me.

1) I absolutely love acting and being in plays and musicals! I was in every single High School production that I could ever be in while attending school. Plus, I was the only one in my class of 2003 who was in all of the productions and got a reward for it my Senior Year! I sure do miss it!

2) I am addicted to chapstick. Many of you have probably seen me put chapstick on. But I don't put on just a little bit. I bet on coats of it! It just feels so good on my lips because they get so stinkin' dry! I love it.

3) My face skin is really stretchy. Because of it, I can make a platypus face. Enough said.

4) I love chocolate but never eat it! I don't know why! Maybe I feel it's just for special occasions or something...who knows.

5) I grew up in a town where there are more cows than there are people and you can imagine how interesting that could get. We lived in a town that smelled like cows....all the time. Yuck.

6) I am double jointed. It doesn't mean I'm flexible, it just means I have two joints in my fingers and arms. I can twist my arm/hand all the way around and bend my fingers really far back. It's pretty gross!


This is the next tag:

How long have you been together? We've been married for almost 3 years but started dating 5 months before that

How old is he? 26

How old are you? 23

Who eats more? I probably eat more than he does most of the time.

Who said "I love you" first? I remember it perfectly and it was him, but I said it right back!

Who is taller? Hyrum at 6'

Who sings better? Hyrum! He's soooo amazing!

Who is smarter? If it has to do with computers, he is by far! If it has to do with scrapbooking, me! Other than that, we're both the same. :)

Who does the laundry? I do, but I don't do a very good job putting the clothes away!

Who does the dishes? I usually do but Hyrum will help every now and then when he's not so busy!

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Hyrum does

Who pays the bills? I do for the most part.

Who mows the lawn? The apartment guys right now but when we have a lawn to mow it'll be Hyrum. I'll do it sometimes but it'll mostly be Hyrum.

Who cooks dinner? Me and Kyla!

Who is more stubborn? Oh that's easy...it's me. But I try not to be!

Who kissed who first? It was a mutual thing I guess. I kinda mentioned something to Hyrum but then he's the one who actually made it perfect before I chickened out. (you can ask me the story later if you want.)

Who asked who out? Hyrum asked me out during finals week! He was in my class, looked me up on stalker net then called me. Haha...it's a good thing I didn't think he was nuts!

Who proposed? Hyrum proposed perfectly.

Who is more sensitive? Me. But Hyrum is sensitive on some things too.

Who has more friends? I just asked Hyrum and he said that I do so I guess I'll go with that answer!

Who has more siblings? Hyrum does. I only have 2 younger brothers, an older step sister and older step brother. Hyrum has 3 sisters and 4 brothers.

Who wears the pants in the relationship? Hmm...Most likely it's Hyrum.

Who are you tagging? Sarah and Edgar Cheney, Karianne and Larry Loose, Bonnie and Jon Graff, and Triana Ord ( you can do either tags or both! I'll leave it up to you)

Spiritual Insight

So this is probably more of a personal post but I just wanted to write my thoughts down, even if they don't make sense. You can choose to read it or not!

I was reading in D&C 50:22 this morning. I've read this scripture many times before but this time it seemed different to me. It was so beautiful. I've been reading commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants so far as I've been reading through it this year and what it said made this passage so much more beautiful.

Here's the scripture:
"Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together."

Here is the commentary:
"The speaker and hearer together must be guided by the voice that comes from God's presence. Then there is mutual understanding and comprehension. That principle was beautifully told to the Prophet Joseph Smith at the very beginning of the Church. The doctrine is set forth in "D&C section 50, of the book of Doctrine and Covenants, in which is explained that when both the hearer and the speaker are moved upon by the same power and spirit the greatest joy is attained. . . . ["D&C 50:22"D&C 50:23Sec. 50:22-23, quoted.]

"When apostasy comes, it is because the spirit of revelation departs from us. The wire is broken between us and the source of truth. We cannot understand, though truth be spoken, since we are not possessed of the spirit of truth. We misunderstand and misinterpret.

"There is only one way . . . to obtain and possess this mighty spirit . . . which guides the Church today and enlightens every soul, and that is by obeying strictly, with all our might, as far as we poor mortal beings are able, the laws of the Gospel. If we obey, if we practice in our lives the truths given us, then as certainly as we do that, the enlivening spirit of light, of revelation, of understanding will come to us, comprehension will enter our minds and hearts and we shall know the true joy of being Latter-day Saints." (John A. Widtsoe, CR, October 1934, p. 11.)


It just seems so beautiful to me because it's so true. When the speaker and the hearer are both in tune with the Spirit, ready to learn, and feel the Spirit the "greatest joy is attained."
I just find it so amazing that we have so many simple things to follow in the Gospel and if all we do is obey and try our best to do what is right, we will be able to know the "true joy of being Latter-day Saints." Who would not want to have true joy? I have felt it many times in my life. I think this scripture is not only true for those teaching or giving talks in church, but for those who are teaching us about life. For those people in our lives who are friends to us and give us advice. For parents who teach us how to do everyday things. As a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend, I hope I can have this Spirit with me always and that me and my children, friends, and family will have an openness and willingness to learn from each other so that we can all have and feel that true joy by being a part of this wonderful Gospel. I know it is true and I am so grateful to be apart of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!

Many Words

Kyla's Vocabulary (the way she says it and what it translates to):

40+ words at age 1!

Dada--Dad
Dida--Mom
Ba--Ball
Jeess--Jesus
Bempa--Temple
meh--Amen
babu--drink
nana--banana or some food
dots--socks
shoe--shoes
biper--diaper
dates--thanks
dawdees--strawberries
paday--patty cake
ehh--bleh or yuck
brr--brr or snow
baa--baa (the lamb sound)
mmmm--for cow sound and for yummie food
ba--bath
ma(with short a sound)--meow
didi--I did it!
mm?--asking a question like "Can you read this to me?"
Bbb--Barney
nigh nigh--night night
buh--book
dis--this
bada--birthday cake
bapoe--apple
eh eh--bark bark, quack quack, or anytime she sees an animal
baby--baby
ooom--car
deedza--pizza
bubba--bubbles
Sss--Sissy(we call Hyrum's younger sister Sissy)
ches??--chair
tssss--cheese
pree--pretty
tee--teeth or toothbrush
bear--(with out the r sound) bear
sh--fish, but mostly she just tries to make the fish face
danta--Santa
bebuh--bellybutton
teh--toy
all done--she doesn't say all done but just puts her hands facing up and to the side. I guess that counts for a sign language word doesn't it?