Three's company and Goodbye Nampa

Well, since my last blog, we had our third boy, and moved to Nampa, in a beautiful home that I have loved for the last year. We moved into our home June 6, 2014. Here we are August 3, 2015 and we are selling our home. Last Monday Josh had a last minute meeting invite with his manager's boss, and his team. The Boise location will officially be terminated September 7, 2015. They offered a relocation to Alpharetta, GA. Of course, I immediately thought it was a great idea, despite the fact that we'll be moving from anything and everyone we have ever known, loved, and grown up with. I'be never been south, other than California, and that doesn't count in my opinion. The farthest east I've been is Washington DC.
I got the house ready to sell in 3 days, with the help of an amazing friend whom I'll miss very much. I made an appointment with the realtor we used last year to buy our house. She is so sweet and kind. I really am glad we were referred to her. So, Friday she came over and took pictures and took her time as I was still frantically cleaning when she arrived. I think I underestimated the time and effort of cleaning a house consisting of 2100+ sq ft and three boys, Josh and myself.
Today the for sale sign went up in our yard. We had a call for a showing, but someone got sick and the family wasn't able to come look at the house. It sure made me clean the house pretty well. A realtor tour is scheduled for tomorrow at 10:30. We're taking the boys to lunch in the park while they're doing the tour.
Josh and I have been looking at rentals in GA, and we went from houses, to town homes, to apartments, and I think we'll have to just make some appointments for the first few days we get there and really hunt for a good place.
I can't even explain the excitement I have for the new journey as we cross the country in minivan and moving truck, and spend a few nights in a hotel, searching for our temporary new home.
God doesn't let us settle and get comfortable where we are. He is constantly preparing us and testing us, to strengthen us. I was just feeling settled and comfortable in our ward, and getting to know some very sweet neighbors, one especially sweet and dear to my heart, even thought we haven't known each other very long.
As I have taught the scouts, primary of all ages, and my own children, I know how important the Lord's work is. We have an opportunity to go and serve in Georgia and be strengthened and let our testimonies be steadfast.
This song makes me think of the pioneers who had to sacrifice everything they had to come west and enjoy the blessings of the gospel, yet they were so happy with the work and struggle, because they knew the end result would be worth it.
Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.

This excerpt from a talk by Gordon B. Hinckley explains exactly how I feel about this wonderful opportunity to move to Georgia.
"We can put behind us our weaknesses of the past, and go forth with new energy and increased resolution to improve the world about us, in our homes, in our places of employment, in our social activities. We have work to do, you and I, so very much of it. Let us roll up our sleeves and get at it, with a new commitment, putting our trust in the Lord."

Time for an update! 2 years and 364 days of married life!

This was taken in January. Elias was a month old and Jaden was 23 months.

Elias is a very smiley boy! Jaden loves him to pieces, and if I don't watch carefully, crawls into Elias's crib with him. Luckily, I don't have Elias in the crib too often yet, so Jaden doesn't have much of a chance of falling on Elias.


Elias is now 2 1/2 months old and weighs 18 lbs. This isn't a recent pic of him. It was taken when he was about 1 1/2 months. He's going to pass up his big brother in weight by the time he's 1 probably.

Jaden's first birthday

A little late, but Jaden's first birthday!
February 12, 2010

Jaden's first Halloween!

Okay, so we didn't dress him up and take him trick-or-treating.
We had a "photo shoot" with his cousin, Jason. Photography by Savanna (sis-in-law, Jason's mom)






Josh carved pumpkins tonight! This is a witch holding a pumpkin. Pretty creative!


And, Jaden wanted to be with his other cousin, Maci. Since she's 2 hrs away, we decided to do have a stand-in for her. :D Love you Elizabeth! HAPPY HALLOWEEN, everyone!

Jaden ~ 8 months

This pic reminded me of the Gerber baby so I had to post



He loves eating apple and bananas, this day was an apple.


The beautiful fall colors and weather! We had to take a little trip outside!

Hmm... leaves.. wonder what these taste like


He loved being outside.

Jaden crawling Oct 7, 2009. Army crawling

Jaden ~ 7 months

Such a happy and pleasant boy!

Jaden with Grandpa Fowble

He loved the exercise ball

Spending the day with Grandpa and MiMa

Peek-a-Boo!

Disneyland.... cont'd.

Well, we have a lot more pics to post, but I don't feel like doing it today, seeing has how I posted more blogs today than I have at all before on here.. lol I'm done for today!

Hope you like our pics!

DISNEYLAND!

As our second honeymoon after getting sealed, we went to Disneyland. Jaden has a little stuffed Mickey Mouse baby that we have put next to him once in a while and told him it's Mickey Mouse. Well, we got a picture with him, and Jaden was smiling (of course, after the picture). Since Josh might see this blog, I suppose I should tell you this picture of us and Mickey is in California Adventure...Not Disneyland.


I don't think people realize how family friendly Disneyland is. There's sort of a mother's lounge in both Disneyland and California Adventure. They have bottles, formula, diapers, wipes, pacifiers, and a few other things you might need if you didn't pack your bags very well. Of course you have to pay for them, but they're there. They also have an area for you to feed toddlers, a little kitchen area to warm up things and rinse stuff off. There's an awesome changing room. Little potties for children 32" and shorter. An area for breastfeeding mothers,and a little room for mothers to pump if they need to.
Jaden, Josh, and I got the opportunity to meet Rabbit and Tigger while in there!



Later, we were in the stores looking around, and Cinderella decided to show up!

The Hoover Dam

On our way from St. George to Anaheim, Josh asked if I wanted to see the Hoover Dam. I didn't even really know where it was. I knew it was in the western part of the U.S. ...Josh knew pretty much where it was, I felt a little dumb. But he's been there before, so I didn't feel so geographically uneducated. So we put it in the GPS and realized it only added an hour to our drive (and we were doing good on time anyway). They're building a bridge that goes over the water. It's HUGE! There are a ton of cables holding things up.

The Hoover Dam is a little overwhelming. On the drive there I was getting anxious just because on movies it looks HUMONGOUS! There's a radio station you can listen to that gives you information about the tours. Literally, they have a new tour called the Dam Tour. HAHA If you've watched National Lampoon's (some vacation) they go to the Hoover Dam. The brother-in-law asks the tour guide about the dam tour and the dam bathroom, etc. It was hilarious when Josh and I heard about the new tour name. We were going to go on a tour, but there was something going on (testing or something...) so we watched a movie about the dam history and then walked through the little museum they have. We saw some dam rocks, dam water, dam wind, among many other dam things.

It was a little bright for Jaden, but inside the building, he was pretty dam happy!

Families Can Be Together Forever

Josh, Jaden and I got sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on April 26th, 2009. That day was so amazing. It felt rushed, but everything you learn is so powerful. We haven't had a chance to go back yet, but I want to so badly. I told Josh I want to learn. I feel like since I graduated, I'm just sitting here, not progressing (ex: math, science, new hobby...etc.) Well, after going to the temple I've realized that I will learn a LOT if I keep going there. I think there will always be new things to learn and ponder in the temple. My family is now eternal. For that, I am eternally grateful to our Savior, and for the sacrifice he made for us. I think going to the temple to get sealed makes our Savior's sacrifice that much more meaningful. Yes, most members of the church are born under the covenant, but it's not something you experience and have a memory of. I love my husband more than anything in this life. Our son Jaden is growing so fast and babbling so much. I wonder what he would tell us if he could talk. We have a picture of the Nauvoo Temple in our room above our bed. When we lay Jaden on our bed, he'll stare at that picture. It could just be that it's a contrast against the wall, but Josh and I like to think it's something more than that.

cousins

Maci, Daxton, Olivia, Taylor, Samantha, Jaden

This was taken at Dad's house on March 2, 2009. All the cousins together. Some happy, some not. lol Can't wait until there's another boy in the family to balance it out a little. I did my part in helping out Daxton. haha Malorie or Sara better have a boy!

~~~~~~~~Jaden Randolph Neider~~~~~~~

Jaden was born February 12, 2009 at 4:23 pm. He was 7 lb 7 oz, 20 1/2 inches. Healthy little boy, and ready to eat the minute he was born! At his two week check up he was 8 lb 9 oz. He loves to sleep, and loves getting kisses from Daddy. He has brought so much joy to Josh and me already, and I love him more than I could have imagined.

He has his Grandpa Neider's hands. They are wide, and big. His feet are the size of his 3 month old cousin's feet. I'm thinking he'll be pretty tall.

Josh and I feel very blessed in the way things have gone. The pregnancy was great, with no health problems or anything bad. The delivery was amazing, and our son is healthy and eats well.