Travis & Hailee Hanks

Well it is no Baby Elmo it is a.....

2010-10-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

Its official we are going to be getting a new little addition to the Hanks home around March 7th. We are glad to clarify now that it really isn't and Elmo as Emree has told everyone, we are have a BOY!!! Travis is so excited and I am excited as well. Now i just have to figure out how to make Ems small pink and brown poka dot room to look boyish also. It is going to be fun. Trav just keeps saying can you believe we are going to have two kids. It is crazy, but Emree will be glad to have a little playmate. The ultrasound tech was funny she finally said well i am pretty sure i know what it is but i want to get ya a better picture of the little turtle. Travs face was so cute. He was excited. He is a busy little boy, he moved the whole time so fast. Now the fun begins, buying boy stuff and thinking of boy names. We don't have a name we absolutely love. Trav keeps coming up with names and says that sounds like a tuff boy, and i haven't loved any of them so we will be doing some searching. Emree is really into babies and is of course very helpful. I am getting her all practiced up so she can be a good big sister. She is going to do great. We are really enjoying every minute of her and all the funny things she say and does. This week at her 18 month checkup she was 5% for weight and 7% for height. She is a tiny little smart, sassy girl. I also kept telling Travis you don't need a boy Emree loves all the stuff that a little boy will. She loves hunting and farming. She was way into grain harvest, and potato harvest was even better. She got to ride in tractors and trucks. She would even help me grab vines out of the potatoes and throw them on the ground. She loved it and would ask as soon as she woke up, "tractor peass". She was so dirty and loved every minute of it. OK so i will stop this post is getting long. Just wanted to share our exciting news.

Pictures

2010-09-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Ok so i was telling trav how annoyed i was with the blog because it wouldn't post pictures for me. Well like always he only heard half of what i said and thought that i said it won't post. So he was using the computer and thought he would be helpful and posted the last post. So that is why the pictures are on this one. I was grateful for his effort though. We have spent some time with Trav, Derf, and papa in the tractors doing grain harvest, and emree is in love with tractors and farming. She was out there helping Derf yesterday take a truck apart and would pick up all the washers and screws and follow him around handing them to him. She loves to be out there with the boys and throws a big fit when she doesn't get to stay. So today i told her when daddy gets back from hunting we will go get in the tractor and she ran and got her "cowbo" boots as she would say and was ready to go, it was pretty dang cute. I told Trav we need to get him a boy, because Ems loves the farm and trucks and hunting videos.He has trained her well, although i have to admit she does do a pretty good cow elk call. I also have had the opportunity (i guess is a good word...jk) to go out with Travis and Derek hunting. Trav got me all the gear and I am trying to be a supportive wife, but it actually is pretty fun. I love being out in the beautiful mountains and seeing all the animals. It is also really entertaining to listen to these boys, they really get into it. We live in such beautiful country!!!

We are back!

2010-09-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

So i know i have not posted forever, but the summer is slowing down so i decided to put some of Ems latest pictures up. A friend of mine that is Trav's friend's wife from work started to do pictures and asked if i would bring Emree up so she could do some pictures of her for her blog. I said sure of course who doesn't like to get pictures of their kids. So i am counting them for Emree's 18 month pic. She uses natural light and did an awesome job. She has two old ford truck that she has pulled up into her grain field and we did most of the pics there. It was so fun to do outside pictures for the first time. Emree loved it as always! She is a little poser! Not much has changed around here, life is going good. Trav is slowing down at work so we are seeing him a little more which is always nice. Emree is a little chatter box and tries to repeat everything i say. Her hair has went way blonde this summer and still curly crazy. She is so funny and keeps Travis and I laughing! I am struggling with getting the pic to upload so i will work on that tomorrow. Time for bed, for now here is the ladies website if anyone is interested. http://www.reminiscebykimandrach.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday & Happy Easter

2010-04-08T12:32:00.001-07:00

I am still trying to believe that i have a one year old. Everyone tells you it goes so fast, but it is true. My little girl is 1 and walking, and she is still pretty little. Her stats for her 1 yrs old are: 18.4 lbs and 28 in. She is going to have her moms height but that is all good, we love her just how she is. She loved her birthday it was full of fun. We had conference and she loves to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and we had an Easter egg hunt, and yummy food, and colored eggs (she napped during that it was easier), and lots of time with the family. I wasn't sure what she would do with the cake, but she loved it. Every time she grabbed it she would give me her hand and want me to wipe it clean. I never got it on camera, but when i asked her how old she was she would hold up one little finger, and then when we lit the candles she did this funny blowing thing, it was pretty cute. Ems clapped all day for herself and loved all the attention she was getting.

Grandpa filled some of the eggs and we love when he does that, so I made sure Emree found one of his. She loves these kids. It is so fun to watch her and Jospeh play together, they have their own little language and just follow each other around. The kids had a great time.

When we got back home on Monday we had another party with Trav's family. I decided to do something a little different. So we went to the REX and played in the Jump place. The kids loved it and so did us moms, we all were worn out and red in the face from playing so hard. The boys all ate pizza while we played. It was a great time. Ems just loves to jump and watch all the kids run around. She had a wonderful birthday and was spoiled by everyone.
These are just some random pictures of the past couple weeks that i love. What a girl she is so full of life and just loves new things and always smiling. She loves her babies and if she doesn't have it in the tub with her she is feeding it a bottle or patting it. Loves the dishwasher and is very helpful around the house. And lately she loves to have glasses or things on her head. Trav's mom has a crown that she loves to put on and walk around it is pretty classic. Anyways, enough about Emree, as you can tell we love her. Things are good with Trav and I we are just doing the usual he is getting excited for work to pick up and I am getting excited for warm weather. We are just so grateful for one another and all of our blessings that everyday brings.

Cruise and Snow

2010-02-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Sunsets

Where do i begin...the cruise was so nice and can't believe it is done and gone. We left the 25th from Miami FL and got back the 31st. It was great to enjoy some wonderful sun, food, entertainment, sleep, and all the rest. Yes, i did miss little Ems, but she had a great time as well as grandma's. She was spoiled by grandpa and spent everyday with the cousins and loved it. She is really bored with me and much louder now.

Here are a few pics of our wonderful vacation.

We visited three different islands in the Bahamas.

Half Moon Cay

When we got back to Miami, we had a few hours until we flew out so we went and did an Everglades Tour. It was sweet! Yes we are holding a 4ft alligator.

Then when we got back here came the snow. It is crazy how much it has snowed in the last week. Ems still loves it outside, so we bundled her up and went for a little cruise on the snow machine. I was lovin it, i forgot ho

w much i love to snow mobile! Emree wasn't very sure about it, she liked it until i took off with out her. Even though the cruise was warm and beautiful, i still love Idaho and how beautiful it is when there is a

lot of fresh snow.

Family Pictures & Merry Christmas

2009-12-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

Well once again, i am finally making some time to blog an update of our life. Things are going good. We are getting excited for Christmas, we are ready and can't wait. Emree keeps trying to unwrap the presents she can reach and loves to pull the red ornaments off the tree. She is so much fun i just want to freeze her at this stage. I love all the new tricks she is doing, like the newest one is singing "once there was a snowman" with me. She puts her hands high in the air and makes some loud noise for one whole breath. It is pretty funny. She loves to walk around the house with her little push walker thing. She gets going so fast and then rams the tree. She loves to feed herself and i am not sure if i like it or not it is such a mess but very entertaining to watch her do it. Emree loves watching tv, and gets so excited when she sees the little caterpiller from baby ein. come on the screen. The other night i rented UP and i turned it on and for the first ten minutes of the show she giggled and loved it so we laid her pillow done and we all snuggled up on the floor and watched the show it was pretty fun. She still loves her daddy, he has been pretty busy doing his parents house and with work, so we both love when we get to spend some time with him. Every morning and nap i wake up to daddadada, and wonder why am i the one getting her:) jk it is cute. My favorite is the clapping, she claps everytime i sing or dance or doing anything for her. She is my little cheerleader/biggest fan. As you can tell we love our little Ems and love watching her grow. It is crazy how fast it is flying by.

We finally got some family pictures done. Candis my cousin took them last weekend and they turned out pretty good considering that Emree was not very excited about it. She didn't like sitting on our laps and smiling she wanted to be all alone. As you can see she picked her nose for us and clapped through most of them because i was trying to make her smile and dancing behind Candis. It was a workout. It is crazy i look at the picture and think wow i can't believe this is my little family, pretty cool!

I better be done, we are on our way to go pick up Elder Derek Hanks( travs little brother) from the airport. He has been serving in Bolivia and we are so excited to see him!! Trav has been going crazy! Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and happy holiday's. Remember the reason for the season, we are so grateful for our Savior and his birth and life. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be able to be with my cute little family forever. All because of this little baby that was born on this earth, lived and dead and now lives again i too can live forever with those that i love. Merry Christmas!!!

Pictures, Tylenol, Teeth, Halloween....fun fun

2009-10-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

Ok so i have lots of random pictures to post. Emree is now 6 months old and weighing in at 14.5 lbs and 25.5 inches. Still a little peanut but the doc said she looks good and healthy. We went and got some pics of her and also her cute ducky costume. Here are a few of my favorites.

She thinks she is so funny in the costume everytime she has it on she just laughs. She now has 2 teeth and got her shots the other day and they usually don't bother her but either her teeth are driving her crazy or the shots, but i am about to go crazy. We just keep pumping the tylenol and motrin and watching lots of baby e. Last Saturday trav was suppose to go hunting and he had been gone all week out of town on work so he decided to stay home so if was so nice we just spent the whole day together and Emree loved it being with her dad and having somebody else besides me to play with. We went and did some Christmas shopping and then got dinner. So since we were going to town Trav wanted her to wear a cute going to town outfit. We called it the Grandma Sandra outfit because she loves black and white. She also is finally big enough to eat in her highchair, the tray goes almost to her neck, but she loves it. Everything gets really messy especially when she gets a hold of the spoon.

Ems loves being outside so i have been bundling her up and if we are lucky we will catch grandpa doug outside and he will take us for a Rhino ride. Emree loves it because buster (the dog) comes to. Well other than surviving the teeth we are doing good just playing and learning new things. Hope everyone has a great Halloween!!!

Getting so big!

2009-10-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone...yes Emree and i are alive. So sorry for being so slow on posting, so i will do a quick update on everything. Jeri thanks to you i am finally posting more pics of my little cutie pie. She is so much fun and just full of energy and smiles. We have been busy reading stories and playing with her farm animals (they are her new favorite toy). We recently got to spend some time in the spud truck with grandma peggy and with daddy in the digger. She thought that was great she loves her daddy almost as much as her daddy loves her. I can't believe she is 6 months old. Her doc app is Tuesday and then i will post again her stats. I am curious to see how much she has grown. We are finally getting to wear some new outfits and it has been fun. I have been wondering if Emree is teething, but not sure since this is all new to me, and on Saturday I put my finger in ems mouth and felt something sharp and thought o my goodness that is a tooth. It has finally popped through and you can see it. So bottle feeding is going to be on my to do list. Some of her favorite things have also been sucking on her big toe and watching her baby einstein videos. She loves it. I but down a pillow and lay her down and as soon as the little caterpiller guy comes on the screen she gets excited. It is nice because i can leave her there and get dinner down or whatever i need to do with two hands. It is so funny because i will be in the other room and hear her laughing so i will come in to see what is so funny and it is usually a weird toy or funny puppet on the tv and her full attention is on that screen.

Trav still is busy with work and farming. He has had to go on lots of out of town trip to work on pumps, pivots, and whatever else and it is not fun we really miss him when he is gone, but the one good thing is it gives me an excuse to go to Malad and hang with the fam. It is nice to go and have all the cousins and grandma and grandpa to play with Emree. I have the funniest picture on my phone but not sure how to get it off, i walked in the kitchen the other day and my dad was holding emree and she has something in her hands and in her mouth and looks like a little chipmunk. My dad said she wanted an oreo. She was going to town on it and gave me that look like don't u take it away. My dad thinks she can eat anything and is always give her whatever she reaches for he is already spoiling her.

Happy grandma with Emree and Joseph.

Well that is probably long and boring enough, but we are doing well and enjoying everyday. Winter is coming and i am trying to figure out how i am going to entertain ems all day inside, so if anyone wants to do play dates we are game. Hope all is well with all of you.

Please pick me!

2009-08-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

OK so i saw this on Lindsey's blog, and fell in love with this girls stuff. If i win i would love some of the adorable booties for emree ( not like she has enough shoes all ready) and a headband to share with little ems. Anyways and i am think i will definately need to order a bag for me for christmas. Kristy i love your work.

O how cute!!!

2009-07-27T18:37:00.001-07:00

Today i went and got pictures done at JC Penney and it was so fun. I have been wanting to get some of her because she is smiling and giggling and is getting really strong. She holds her head up so good, loves to stand, and chews on everything. I was nervous that she would not smile, because everytime i get the camera out she just stares at it. But it was so funny she laughed and laughed at the lady and the camera. Everyone couldn't believe how funny and cute she was. I know she is my baby, but everyone else that sees her is in love with her cute face, what a doll! We are just loving every minute of her. She is stubborn and determined, but its all good. She loves her daddy to, it is so fun to watch them together. Anyways just thought i would hurry and post these, because i loved them.

Pictures of Emree

2009-06-12T17:11:00.001-07:00

Ok, I know i am so bad at posting pictures. But i spend more time just visiting with her that i only get the essential stuff done, and posting has been essential. She looks so cute in blue with her daddy's blue eyes.

Trav has been wanting me to make ours private (so everyone send me your emails so i can add you when we go private), so i was waiting to post more after i did that but it hasn't happened and everyone keeps telling me to post more, so I am just going to put lots of pictures up of the little cutie. Grandma DD is so proud of these to sweethearts and is so good with them, and we always have to have a blanket on them when she is around. Emree is smiling and trying so hard to visit, and even little giggles. It has been alot of fun. Her dad can't get enough of her, when he FINALLY gets home, he only wants to spend time with her, yes i get very jealous! jk it is good. She is growing so fast she now weighs 10.5 lbs and 21.5 in long. It has been fun to dress her in new clothes and look forward to more sunshine so i can put her in her cute swim suits and sun dresses. We love to go for walks and mainly just visit after naps and full tummies. She is her daddy though when it comes to sleep. She gets very cranky if she hasn't got a good nap or if it is time for bed and she is still awake. We also went to Island Park a couple of weeks ago with Beth and her kids. Emree loves them, she is always smiling at Bridger and gets a little nervous when she hears Brynlee but loves her to. We loved feeding the fish and just hangin out.

Here is a random picture of Emree on the day she was blessed all the good pictures are on my dad's camera. She looked beautiful!

Last week we went to Malad for Joseph's blessing it was so fun to have them together again. He is so cute, and they are about the same size. Doesn't She look adorable in this cute dress the evans family gave us. I just loved it.

Jason and Trav and two very proud daddy's!

Anyways we just love her and love the joy and happiness she brings into our home.

Baby Emree is 1 week old

2009-04-10T13:24:00.001-07:00

Ok i finally have made some time to get some pictures up of our little additon to our family. Wow, i can't believe how fast the time has went by already. Emree is a week old today and has already blessed trav and i so much. Trav is the proudest father and just loves to kiss on her and look at her. He comes right in from work and wants to spend the rest of the night with her (i am a little jeaouls...jk) I won't do details on the long labor, but we did have her on April 3rd at 4:36 am. It was crazy and i was so grateful for trav and a wonderful nurse. Trav said that she looks just like me but i can see a little bit of him in her. She definately has his skin, dark and beautiful. She has cute dark hair and it is curly when it gets wet. She is such a sweetie. She loves to just visit and especially at 3:00 am. She has been so good, and i hope it continues to go well. I have loved dressing her in all her cute clothes even though they are a little big. She was 7lbs 19 inches, and now is 6lbs 9 oz so she is little but growing already. It is amazing how much time they require but i am loving it. She has had a little bit of jondus so the two days of sunshine she sun tanned and loved it. My mom went home on Wednesday and i was really sad and nervous but we are doing good. She was so helpful, she cooked, cleaned, let me sleep, you name it most of all it was just nice having her here. Moms always know best. We still miss her, but we will just have to make lots of trips to Malad. Anyways i have just posted lots of random pictures of our little cutie pie. We love her so much and we are so glad she is here and so blessed to have her apart of our family.

Baby's Room

2009-03-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

The babies room is finally i think ready. Everything is ready for her to come except her i guess. I keep thinking i need to leave my house messy or think of something that isn't prepared and then she will come. . . jk it is all good. On Thursday the doctor said I was at a 2 and 70%, so anytime would be great. But until she comes I thought I would post some pictures of her room and all the help I have had. A couple weeks ago my sister came up and helped me paint. It took us all day to do one wall and then the next day Trav and Beth did the other two walls in a fourth of the time it took us. I must have not been much help. Bridger and Brynlee also came up and it was so fun to be with them. They are such good kids. While we painted the walls they painted some CTR rings that we found in Desert Book. They turned out pretty good. Trav has been really good to help get her room all ready even though she won't be in there for a little while. Everytime another box would show up on our porch he would bring it in and get it put up so fast. It is so nice to have a husband that can just do everything, he is my little Mr. fix it. He is all ready being a true dad because he thinks she has way to many clothes and things already, so we are in big trouble because what he doesn't realize is she will grow out of what we have so fast. I took a picture of what i have hung up, and Trav says she is already like her mother and has too many clothes and shoes. Shoes are my weakness and i have brought her some cute ones. Anyways it needs a little more work, but we are good for now. Thanks Beth again for all your help. It was so fun to spend the weekend with ya and get me all ready and prepare for this little angel to come. So hopefully next time we post it will be picutres of her. Wish us luck, Trav is going to need all the help he can get...jk He is going to do great.

Our big accomplishments

2009-03-12T08:27:00.001-07:00

Ok so these big accomplishments of Trav's and I are not that great, but we were both proud of ourselves. I accomplished making yummy homemade wheat bread all by myself and Trav caught a fish. For Christmas Trav's parents gave us a nice wheat ginder, wheat, and all the supplies to make Peggy's yummy bread. I was excited but then made the mistake of telling Trav I couldn't make the bread unless i had a nice Bosch like his mom's. So my birthday rolls around and guess what i got. Yep, a nice Bosch to make bread in. Trav was so excited. When i was opening it he said, "This is the gift that keeps on giving. . . well for me." So I thought well i better learn how to do this i have no excuses now of why i can't. So i went over a few weeks ago and Peggy taught me how. I wrote down everything, because i really wanted to get it right. Then last week i attempted to do by myself. And it went really well, and the bread tasted great. I took some down to my family and they loved it. Trav was the most excited, he is a bread man and almost ate the whole loaf. They don't look as good as Peggy's do, but hopefully with a little practice i will get it down.

We went down to Malad last weekend for the last trip down without a baby (thats crazy). We had a great time just hanging out. While i went and got a pedicure (thanks heidi) Trav finally got to go ice fishing. He has been wanting to go, and Bridger is really into it, so they went up to Crowthers and Trav caught the biggest fish. Bridger was showing him how to do it and then said Trav lets try a new whole and Trav pulled up a 16 in rainbow. He was pretty proud and Bridger was mad that he let Trav take the new whole. They had a great time!

Prego Pictures

2009-03-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

I know it has been forever since i have posted anything, but every picture i have, i just think i am too big to put that picture up on the blog. I have lots of friends prego right now and they are all posting cute pictures of themselves, and well you know how it is i just feel huge. Trav keeps saying your pregnant you are suppose to be big (he is ready to have his non pregnant wife back). But Beth sent me some pictures from my shower in Feb. Jake has been wanting to see what Heidi and i look like big and fat together, so we took this horrible back to back picture and emailed it to him, and all he said was that was the sickest thing i have ever seen (he didn't get a very good Valentines package...jk) It has been fun to be so close with Heidi in our pregnancies and to see how much we really do look like each other is it crazy. The picture of Brynlee is so hilarous, she has been really into this pregnant thing, and is always touching my tummy and talking to baby E. The other day she came into Beth and said, "mom now i look like Hailee and Heidi." (Notice the toes pop, she is miss model, and the bad thing is kids are so honest, and she really thinks we look that big.) She is so cute. The rest of the pictures are for those of you who won't leave me alone about posting pregnant pictures. I took the one yesterday so you have been updated and i hope to not get any bigger. She is still moving a lot though, so I am afraid she is still growing. . . but thats ok. We just hope she is doing well and can't wait to see her. Trav is really getting excited, and I am so glad he is going to be the daddy of my children because he has really been into the grandkids lately and is so good with them. Life is good, we are excited and ready for life to begin with this new little angel coming our way!!

Its a Girl!

2008-11-30T20:32:00.001-08:00

As most of you know because Trav sent out a text minutes after we found out, we are having a sweet little girl in April. It was really neat to see the ultrasound and try and understand what body parts are what and how is that thing living inside me. Trav picked out that it was a girl before the doctor even said anything, and I still don't know if i ever saw or understood what i was looking for. We are just so grateful she is healthy and moving right along. It was funny the doctor measured everything and then said everything is still on with the due date except her legs, and i just laughed and said she has no hope i could have told ya she would be small. My mom came up from Malad to be there and it was great, she was so excited and even took me to Porters after to pick out some material. Trav has also been really cute about it and i think he has been more excited it was a girl then i was. Don't get me wrong i am grateful for a girl, but i thought he would want a little Trav Jr. first, but he told me that real men have girls first, so he is already a proud daddy. Anyways just wanted to share the new exciting news, and look forward to having this little angel in our family in April.

Also i wanted to post my beautiful Christmas tree and my favorite nativity that my mom gave me when i started school. Our tree turned out wonderful, it is much smaller than last year, so i feel like it is a little overload with ornaments, but it is so fun to have up and bring the christmas spirit into our home. I think trav is already sick of christmas music because i love having it on. The Nativity is my favorite thing to put up every year. My mom is a nativity freak and i miss putting up all of hers with her. It seems like it just adds a little more of a beautiful spirit to have Christ as a baby displayed in our home. I love the holidays and the events and spirit that are in full force. I always think because of this one holy night my light has been blessed forever and i am so grateful for my Savior and his birth!

A little of everything!

2008-11-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

Ok i know it has been over a month since i have posted, but i am going to try and get caught up. First of all like most of you know Trav has started his new job at Rain for Rent and really enjoys it. They have already treated us very well, and enjoys the people he works with. But when he started he also received a uniform that is well how do i say this nicely, he looks like a janitor or something of that sort, but i will take it because they wash all of his clothes, so not only did we save some money on work clothes, but also send his clothes to work to get cleaned. Here is a hot picture of him. . . .

Also when he got the job he had to go to Boise to some classes for a week, and i am not the best at staying alone, especially out here in the country, so i invited some girls over from the ward and we had girls night out for a couple of days until i took off for Malad to be with my family. We had a great time playing games, eating, watching movies, (Kenize texting), and just hangin out. I kinda felt like i was back in college, except i had to cook and clean for my roommates and wake them up for school (that was a chore). It was fun though and i really appreciate them keeping me company while trav was gone. They are the cutest girls and i have already told my brother he will marry one of them. ;)

After a few days of girls night out i headed for Malad for our Christmas girls weekend out. This year my mom and the sisters all decided to do our girls shopping weekend in Park City...wow what a blast. We had a great time! And my sweet dad always makes it better with the things he does. From the pictures you can tell that we all got most of our Christmas done. It was nice!

We also went to DSW (discount shoe warehouse), and if you didn't know my weakness are shoes, i love shopping for shoes, so when i walk in i said "heaven" a little to loud, plus it didn't help that it was a warehouse, and everyone looked at me.

And then just last weekend one of my best friends was married in Logan. It was really fun to be there and just remember what a neat experience that temple marriage is. I am so excited for her because marriage is truly the best thing in my life. I love Trav and all he has brought into my life, and i am sure rusty will do the same for Jeri. Good Luck guys and enjoy the journey to forever together.

Presenting Thing 1 & Thing 2

2008-10-25T14:07:00.001-07:00

Last night was the wonderful halloween party that Jenni Miller puts on, and it was a lot of fun. The theme this year was famous couples or duos, and you had to have a skit to present who you were. So Trav and I have been thinking for some time and were going to be Danny and Sandy off of grease and sing summer lovin (trav just wanted to dye his hair black again) but i decided that plastic tight pants and high heels all night just didn't sound all that fun. So we went with Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Dr. Suess books. Which also made it easy for our skit all we did was read a few pages from cat in the hat. It turned out great. I searched every store for blue wigs or even wigs that stuck straight up, but it was hopeless. So i finally just got blonde movie star wigs and made them work. I first used jello to get them to stick up, and i couldn't find blue so i used lime and my hands are still green, then i hung them upside down to dry and Trav spray painted them blue, wow don't they look great. One problem was i think they were meant for only girls heads, because Trav's was pretty tight. Then for the uniforms, well we bought pants from walmart, and then finally on thursday we found long red underwear at Cal's, but the trouble didn't end there. We got home and i pulled mine out of the package (which i now can't return them) and they were a youth size. Wow, they were tight, so I had to get another pair. Anyways it all worked out and we had a great time and everyone was very creative and had great costumes. Nobody knew who we were for a while, so Trav thought that was hilarious, and thanks to Doug Trav decided we better wear our red pants over our red underwear. Happy Halloween everyone!!

Before:

I also wanted to post the new improvement in our cute farm house. It had these old light switched and outlets, and i have been bothering Trav to change them because they were so old and loud. If you were to turn on a light in the back bed room you could here it click back by the back door, and the outlets were all just 2 hole outlets instead of three ( i don't know what you call them), except for for a few, which is a problem with most plugs now days. Anyways the new addition looks great and is very appreciated. Trav does start work on Monday at Rain for Rent in IDaho Falls which will be so wonderful, but i have enjoyed having him home to do all these honeydos that have finally got done. I think he is already sick of the phrase we need it for the baby:) Anyways they are so nice!!

After:

Baby Kotter

2008-10-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hey guys i know a few of you are wanting to see pictures of Bree's baby so i went up to the hosptial today and visited them and took some shots of the big guy and told her i would post them on my blog so you all could see him. As some of you already know he was 9 lbs, 3 oz and 21 inches. He is so cute and has the biggest new born feet and hands i have seen. He is going to be one tall ball player someday. He had some fluid in his lungs and needs a little help breathing so that is why he has all the stuff on him. Bree and dillon are very excited and tired. But anyways here are some pictures of little Elijah James Kotter.

Spud Harvest & Conference

2008-10-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

As most of you know it is that time of the year again...Spud harvest (potatoe harvest for those of you who don't speak that language aka: Trevor, and the picture is of me in a potato pit with lots of potatoes behind me ). We started diggin on Sept 27th and finished on Friday the 3rd. It was wonderful to be done in a week and during the warm week. This week has been so cold. I wasn't a lot of help because I had to (or should i stay got to) work. I would get home at 6:00 and they would just be finishing up because it was so hot they had to stop, so i lucked out everyday except for Friday. I took friday off to help drive. Thanks to Mak I was able to drive a spud truck all day and help out a little bit. I don't know if Doug would say i was help or just a pain, but it was all good. Trav was in the digger, Jeff was in the cross over, Doug was running the pit, and then we had the girls and grandpa driving (and who said women drivers were bad). We started about 7:30 am and finished up that night at about 10:00 pm. It was a long very wearing day. I am use to sitting on my butt using a computer, eating every 4 hours, and using the restroom every hour. Well not that day. I used the restroom once, and had a sandwich. My poor baby was like what are you doing. The highlight of the day except for when we got to shower and go to bed was when I was unloading my truck and at the very bottom was a mole or muskrate thing. One of the girls picking through potatoes thought it was a dirt clod and picked it up and it squeaked, and wow then the girl screamed and screamed. Doug started freaking out and none of us knew what was going on until I looked in my mirror and saw it going up the belt into the pit. I started laughing so hard, and Mak was laughing too. Then when i got out to the field i was trying to tell trav the story through the tractor and was struggling driving at the same time because i was still laughing. Needless to stay we needed the pick me up. Once again i am glad i could help, but i was definately worn out, tired and very dirty at the end of the day. But it was worth the long day because we finished and i was able to sleep in on that cold raining Saturday morning and watch conference in my pj's. Also, because we were done we all headed out to the cabin to watch the rest of saturday and Sunday sessions out there. It was nice to just eat and be spiritually fed by our leaders. What a wonderful conference! I love all the encouragement and direction we receieve, but i have a lot of work to do. We live in a world full of trial and sin and it is only going to get worse. It made me really ponder about how important it is for me to prepare myself because soon trav and i will be preparing one of his little spirits. O dear! Well the weekend was nice, and the highlight for trav was seeing the elk. We took a break and went hiking in the moutains by the cabin and we were being plenty loud, Brayden was hitting the trees with his pretend swords (sticks) and we were all talking, and then out of no where we saw 2 bull elk, and about 5 cows. It was pretty cool. Not very often do you see wild elk while you are walking around in the mountains. Now Trav is all pumped for this Friday (open deer hunting), he is even growing a nasty beared that i am having a hard time waking up to, but he thinks he has to have it to hunt with Clint. And if i have to hear him practice bugling one more morning i am really going to kill clint.

(this is the picture of the elk we saw, sorry you can't see it)

Anyways sorry this is getting really long, but things are good and we are going on 15 weeks pregnant and a little tummy that isn't going away.

This is just a random picture i took that i thought was pretty funny. I looked out my window the other day and i saw Trav and his dad riding through the field together. I called it Daddy's little helper!

Cleaning the temple

2008-09-29T20:04:00.000-07:00

I know once again i am slow posting, but at least it gets up sooner or later. On Monday the 22nd, Trav and I met at the Rexburg Temple at 9:45 pm to help our ward clean. We were all dressed in white jump suits, and had a great time cleaning until midnight. It was amazing the things you have to do to keep that place looking as amazing as it does. I kept thinking the whole time, ok if my house is suppose to be a temple, then i need to do more then just try and keep a good spirit in it. But I would have to invite the ward over to help me get it to even start looking like the temple. I don't think i vacuumed up more than 3 fuzzes. Trav had to wear this vacuum that straps on to your back, so with his jump suit and vacuum he looked like ghost busters, it was pretty funny. We had a great time and it was a great experience to do some service in a place that is continually serving us. The janitorial guys said we could come any time mon-fri at 9:45 pm to help, so if you are looking for some serves there's your ticket, plus it was really good exercise.

Super Saturday

2008-09-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

Usually when we go to Malad, my dad lines up so much fun for Trav to do because he knows he will do it with him, and Trav always says well that was a great super saturday, but this time Trav was busy moving while i had a little super saturday with the girls. Trav and I were able to go to Malad again last saturday to help Jed and Krischell move. Well i wasn't much help, but Trav and Jed had the trailor full by noon just in time to go to the Dude for some wonderful lunch and a dude ranch salad (the best salad ever!!!!) Trav also spent some time with Bridger and he was being superman and jumping off the mallbox, it was pretty funny. I also got to spend so great time with my mom and sisters crafting and canning more food. My mom and I had bought a cute halloween wall hanging to make and we finally got time to do it. It is so cute and was way easy, well my mom made it easy. My grandma DD came in to bring me some plum jam and was saying how she wanted the little stitching my mom had that said, "lead me, guide me." So while my mom was finishing the halloween thing, i sat down and stitched her up the saying with some flowers, it was pretty cute and she loved it! I was glad i could finally do somthing for her. Then Heidi and Beth came over and we bottled some dilly beans. They were very strong! It was so much fun to be there and do so much in one day with them. I love being with my family whenever i get.

Making Jam with my beehives

2008-09-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

Well as some of you might know i am the advisor of the Beehives in my ward and love every minute of it, even though they are very giggly. Last Tuesday, Bonnie (beehive counselor) and I taught the girls how to make jam and then enjoyed it on some warm bread. The jam turned out ok, either i wasn't watching close or to many hands adding to much stuff, but it was pretty running and one batch had a lot of sugar in it. But they loved it. They are so fun and full of life. I love there strong spirits and just feel like i can't teach them enough as they progress in this world full of temptation everywhere. I remember how much my Young Womens leaders did for me and i hope we are doing the same for this next generation. Some days i think i am to busy and don't have time, but I have realized that there should always be time to teach and prepare these young girls in righteous paths and hope someday my girls will have leaders that take the time to love and teach them. Sorry that got really long and annoying probably but i love these girls!

Guess What?

2008-09-15T20:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the pictures are probably hard to tell what to guess about, but Trav and I are so excited to announce that we will be expecting a baby some time around April 2nd (jakes b-day my brother on a mission that has been wanting us to get goin). I am 11 weeks, and feeling great(sorry to all of those that get sick) besides i am always hungry and tired Trav says. I am getting concerned that pants are getting tighter, and Trav is always quick to ask me how much i have ate during the day and if i exercised. I can already tell he is going to be fun for the next 6 months. He has been really cute. When we went to get our first picture of our baby (the fuzzy picture of gray) Trav was so funny in the app. I think the doctor was getting annoyed of his questions. He made the mistake of telling trav it was a boy, and trav said i can see the bulge and then i informed him that it hasn't even formed those parts. So i hope if it ends up being a girl he won't be to sad. The other picture is of trav and i at 5:30 in the morning when i couldn't wait any longer to pee on the pegnancy test. I was so excited and trav just kept saying there is no way you are really pregnant. I have been listening to a book on tape on my way to work, and it is about Emma Smiths life, and there are days when i walk in to work crying because it is amazing what she went through and the trials she endured to do the work of the lord. She lost so many babies, and i have felt so blessed to have not had any problems to creating a child of God and pray that everything continues to go well. We are so BLESSED and excited!!!

Catch Up

2008-09-15T19:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, i am sorry i am so behind, but my camera has been in Malad for a couple of weeks so am just going to put everything together. First of all, our garden has been so nice this summer and we have enjoyed the yummy garden dinners, but it is coming to a close so i thought i would put a pitcure of our sunflowers that have been fun to watch grow. I was so excited to have them to look at everday because of the reminder they would be to follow the "Son", but some of the flowers for some reason face the same way every day. there are a few that do move and they moved great when they were just leaves, but not so good now. This turned out to be better for me because i realized that some times i choose not to follow and just face the dark and wonder why i am confused we all so easily lose sight of the Son in our lives and the blessing it can be. I am so grateful for prophets, scriptures, prayers, and examples that continue to help me follow our Savior and let him guide me to the light and truth where happiness always is. Second, Trav and i had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas with my family to a cousins farewell. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the nice weather, and most of all spending time with the Evans family. Chase my cousin left for Washington DC mission on Wednesday and we are so excited for him and excited to see the amazing work that he will do. While we were there we spent a lot of time jammin out on the Wii with the American Idol karaoke. Trav was hularious and so fun to watch. His favorite song to do which worried me was "Glamerous". And he knew it way to well. And third, we spent the weekend down in Malad. It was wonderful and i had a hard time coming back. When we were leaving to come home Trav asked me what was my favorite part about the weekend and i said canning peaches with my mom. That is one thing i have missed so much being away from home for the first summer of my life. She was so helpful, and we had a great time just talking and spending the day together. There was one thing missing my grandma DD usually is there and she makes the process so much faster, but she works in the Logan temple on Sarurdays so I guess she was in the right place. We got a lot done and my food storage looks much better. Trav got to go hunting with Clint and he still hasn't stopped talking about it, so thanks Clint! Also a bunch of my friends from High school were in town and heard i was also and they surprised me and came over. It was fun to see them and especially excited to see Jerianne with a ring on her finger. But to top the whole weekend off, it was my Grandpa & Grandma Hess' farewell. They are leaving for New York on Monday to serve the Lord for 18 months and are going to do great. I am so excited for them and for the people that will be blessed by there service and spirits. The farewell was so good, the spirit that was there was wonderful and gave me a push to do more to help to teach the gospel. I think about Jake and Derek our brothers that are serving and just filled with love for the Savior and this gospel and i envy it. But i can have the same feeling if i just dedicate myself to the work like they have. Good Luck grandma and grandpa we will be praying for ya and missing you, but we love you and know what you are doing is right. Just remember elder scott said, "The only way to prevent a plum from turning into a prune is to serve a mission."

Bear Lake

2008-08-15T18:03:00.001-07:00

I was bummed because Trav was suppose to be cutting grain and i was going to have to work, so we wouldn't be able to go to bear lake with my family this summer, but luckly the grain wasn't ready and I have an awesome boss. We had a blast playin on the water, eating ice cream, playing the human elastic (don't have pictures of that yet), waterskiing, tubing, and just relaxing in the sun. It is always nice to spend time with my family. But it was different without Jake and can't wait to have him back with us in 2 years.

2nd Honeymoon

2008-04-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Travis and I were lucky enough to go with my parents and Jake to the Virgin Islands in January and we had a blast. We called it our second honeymoon. It was beautiful and Travis did a lot of scuba diving and never got out of the water. It was fun to spend some time with Jake before he leaves to Peru, and also be with my parents. We are so grateful for them and all they have done for us, they are wonderful examples of what a marriage should be like. Anyways we really enjoyed ourselves and probably drank way to many pina colodas.

Hailee's Graduation

2008-04-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

Well i finally did it i graduated on the 10th of April. It has been nice just doing what I want and getting some stuff done at home. I am studying to take my Social Work license test, so that isn't much fun, but other than that life is good. The snow is finally almost gone, and the moose are going back to the mountains so now I can walk outside again.