A Year Ago...

A year ago, today, I started working at the Retreat, Salon & Tanning. Everyone who lives in Rexburg Housing (11 apartment complexes) gets free haircuts, manicures, and pedicures, and tanning is only $10 for the semester! How awesome is that!! It was the best job I've ever had!..well except for being a nanny. haha.

The salon is in one of the apartment complexes, Birch Plaza.

The inside...

Well as some of you may not know, I quit July 23rd. It was a wonderful experience and I actually loved working! Everyone here is so kind, thoughtful, and friendly! A few guys even offered to sweep up their hair afterwards, when I was pregnant!

But Andrew and I prayed about it and felt it was right for me to quit and be a stay-at-home mom. I LOVE being with Callie all day, every day! I LOVE having time to do things I wasn't able to do/didn't want to do, while I was working (crafts, cleaning everyday, cooking everyday, etc.). I LOVE Andrew for being so wonderful and wanting me to be at home with Callie, even though we won't be able to afford the fun things as much anymore. But this is who I get to be with all day:

We just got this for her a couple days ago. She gets so excited playing with all the toys.

haha

This is the BEST JOB EVER!!!

Called to Serve

My 2nd oldest brother, Corey, left for his mission this morning. He's going to the MTC in Provo, Utah for a few weeks and than to the South Dakota Rapid City Mission. Andrew and I were able to talk to him over Skype last night. He's going to be an amazing missionary! I'm so proud of him and the choice he's made to serve the Lord for 2 years. Good luck Corey! We love you!

Elder Corey Smith and Elder Logan McCombs

(our families grew up together and these 2 are leaving together for the MTC. Logan's serving in the Colorado Mission...their missions are next to each other!)

My family at the airport this morning...minus me and my oldest brother, Tim, who's on a mission right now in Omaha, Nebraska.

Brothers

Smith's and McCombs

A year ago from tomorrow, the 23rd, we dropped Tim off at the MTC. He only has a year left of his mission and is loving every moment of it.

My cousin, Olivia, came with us...

6 Months Old!

Well Callie had her 6 month check-up yesterday. I can't believe she's already 6 months! She's healthy and still a very HAPPY and CONTENT baby. What more can you ask for? :)

Here are her stats:

12.5 lbs (2nd percentile for her age)

25.5 inches long

Callie waiting to get 3 shots... I hate being there when they do it, but I love being able to hold her afterwards to help comfort and calm her down. She's so sweet.

Two Sundays ago...so cute!

She's good at multitasking. :)

She just started bending her legs like this...getting ready to crawl!

We started feeding her rice cereal a couple weeks ago. (Notice how she's cross-eyed looking at the spoon? haha)

She kept grabbing the spoon...

Today we started her on solids. We're starting with vegetables first because I heard they'll like them more, instead of liking the sweet foods and only wanting those. So she has now tasted green beans.

I LOVE her LIPS!! and cheeks...

Hahaha

Can you tell she's not a fan of this new food? But she never cried...just made funny faces :)

SUMMER!

What a busy summer! It was so nice to visit everyone in Washington and just RELAX! I'm kind of sad it's already over...yes, it's 48 degrees right now and rainy in Rexburg. I'm just praying it doesn't snow next week!

Andrew took the DAT July 27th and is just waiting to hear back from dental schools. Right after his test we drove to Spokane and stayed with Andrew's parents for a night. Then we went to Seattle the next day to visit my family for a couple of days. It was nice to go to my Uncle Jims house, who lives on the Sound, and swim a little, eat yummy food, and laugh a ton by the campfire. We also visited Andrew's sister, Emily, who lives by Seattle. She took us to a musical, a great mexican restaurant, and watched Callie while Andrew and I went to an AMAZING frozen yogurt place. Yeah, Seattle was great!

Uncle Brady and Uncle Corey playing with Callie.

Grandma LOVES giving Callie baths and Callie LOVES getting baths too. I LOVE this picture of her!

We stopped in Preston (by North Bend) on our way back to Spokane and went on a walk. The trail we went on is right in front of the house my family use to live in.

It was so pretty! EVERYTHING was so green!

Andrew playing the piano and singing for Callie. :)

Andrew's niece, Athena, put her "glasses" on Callie. :-)

Athena saved her money and bought these awesome glasses at the dollar store. :)

We went to Ainsworth Hot Springs, in Canada, for a couple of days with the Elmers. This was a hike we went on.

Callie looks so funny just hanging there.

Callie's 2nd time going swimming. We went the day before but forgot our camera. She loved it!

Callie's 1st time going to the movie theatre. We all watched "Despicable Me". Hilarious! She only lasted a half hour and slept the rest of the time.

My friend Morgan came and hung out for the day. We went swimming and played games the whole night. Callie is SO stinkin' CUTE!!!!!

The main thing I wanted to do this summer (and every other summer)...go TUBING!!!!!!! My dad took us tubing a few times and we also tried water- skiing. Andrew and I both liked skiing, but I still like tubing A LOT better!

We had a ton of fun with everyone and are glad we were able to spend time with our family and friends.