Halloween-Past and Present Pumpkins

Jack-O-Lanterns from 2006-We had only been married a few months.

2007 (I'm obviously not as devoted as Keith to pumpkin carving)

Sadly, no Jack-O-Lanterns were produced by the Taylor family in 2008, but I wish we would have carved something down in Dominica...... I'm not sure what we would have used though.

2009

The dirty look is not because of the goo from the pumpkins, I don't mind that part. It because we had just purchased them and they had been outside where it was literally freezing!!! The goo was SO cold and painful to clean out! (and I was trying to tell Keith but he just kept taking pictures and laughing.....)

The master at work. He wanted a big pumpkin and since the first 3 stores we went to were sold out of pumpkins, when we found one that still partially green we had no complaints.

The finished products! Pirates of the Caribbean--Dominica, we are still with you in spirit!

I promise our hair is not as big and puffy as it looks--there is a shadow on the wall making it look much bigger than it is! :)

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Picnic

When we got back from Dominica (2 months ago-sorry for the delay) we really wanted to go out on a date.   We originally wanted to do something along the lines of going out to a nice place and then to a movie that just came out.  Once we started planning, we slowly came to better grips with reality: a nice dinner and newly released movie will not be in our budget for about 10 years.  So, we packed a picnic and headed to the park.
It ended up being incredibly fun and we had a good time (and laugh) watching the little league football team that was practicing across the street from us.
It was a perfect evening and I think I had more fun on the picnic than if we had gone to a nice restaurant!  Thanks for the great date Keith!

 

Lame Update

So, it turns out that blogging is a lot harder for me when I'm going to school, working, and not living on a tropical island.  I just feel like most of my "extra" time is spent studying and doing homework and if by chance I have a little time after that, Keith is lucky enough to get a real dinner.  But, here is a lame update of our lives.

For those of you who don't know, we are back in Pocatello, Idaho.  Keith's parents have a house with a basement apartment off of their garage and have been nice enough to let us stay here, and we love it!  No one has lived here since the fixed it up (they actually gutted and re-did the whole basement) and we really like our upstairs neighbors, so we are happy.

I am going to school at Idaho State University.  I went back and I'm taking some generals so that I can get my Associates and then transfer more easily when we move.  I am also working on campus in the Nursing Department.  I worked there when Keith and I were first married and luckily I got hired back.  I help in the Lab, run the mannequins, set up for students coming down to do labs, etc.  I actually really like it, the lab is brand new this year (it opened in the spring) and it's incredible!  I'll take some pictures one day at work so that everyone can see.  

Oh, I babysit 1 day a week too, and I love love love it!

Keith is currently at the PASS Program in Champaign, Illinois.  It's a review/study course for the STEP 1, which is the first part of his licensing exam (and also the biggest test he'll ever take).  He's been gone a little over a week and has not quite 3 left!!  :(    He said he's learning a lot though and that it has been extremely beneficial.

Such a lame update, but there you go.  Hope everyone is doing well!

Wild Wild West

AH!  I love Idaho!  I miss Dominica too, but I love Idaho.  Here are a few more things we've done since we've been home.

We went with my sister Whitney and her husband Tobin up to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to hang out for a little bit and go to the Bar J Wranglers.  We had an amazing meal of ribs, baked beans, applesauce, a biscuit, baked potato, and spice cake.  (Still one of my favorites!)  After wards, the Wranglers came out and sang and performed, and they did a pretty good job too!

One of the antler arches in Jackson

Whitney and Tobin-aren't they pretty?

Everyone had a different reaction to the bear..... even Whitney who wouldn't touch it.

The Bar J Wranglers

A sweet old lady in line told me that she didn't think my hat would hold up on the trail.  I wanted to tell her probably not, but the ones that would, didn't come in pink.  :)

Over Labor Day weekend, we went camping with Keith's parents to Island Park.  They weather was beautiful and we had such a great time.   

Bill and Katherine, enjoying the beautiful weather.

We took bikes and went on a fun little ride.  

Our campsite was right by Island Park Reservoir, it was beautiful!

Keith reread (for the ump-teenth time) the abridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo in one weekend, it's only 500+ pages in the smallest font you've ever seen.  

It's amazing how 2 places can be so different but both so beautiful!

Home Sweet Home!

Wow, I have a lot to catch up on but here is some stuff that we did our first week home.  My oldest brother Brandon was home for a week when we first got back (we missed you Becky!) and Keith's younger brother Jason was home for 2 weeks from Iraq.  It was great to spend some time with our brothers (and of course, the rest of our family).

My sister Whitney and I (and stitch) at a BBQ/lawn party they had the night we got home.

Our new sweet niece Mackenzie.

My youngest cousin Morgann and I in the sunflower patch. We went and spent one morning working with my Grandma and Grandpa Cornwall in their orchard and nice big garden, Morgann provided much entertainment.

Me, Grandma, and Brandon

Whitney and Morgann--Bruce had to get in on the action too.

I can't get over the sunflower covered  mountains!  Idaho, I've missed you!!!!

Brandon, under a tree in the orchard, taking a break.

Keith at my Grandma and Grandpa Cornwall's house, by the corner of the garden.

After a hard morning of work, we went and played at Lava Swimming Pool.  We played water basketball and although it was fun, it was also a free-for-all.  About anything went, so it was tiring!

Tobin, Whitney, and Keith

This picture took A LOT of tries to get.

Tobin

Tobin and Whitney's "lover's leap" off the diving boards

Brandon jumping off of the 3rd platform!!!

Brandon

Us, about as goofy as we could possibly look.  I was trying to make a fish face and I'm not sure about Keith.

BBQ at Mom and Dad Mennears after a full day of working and then playing.  

We love being HOME!!!!!

One Last One

One last Dominica post..... I think.  Here are a ton of pictures from out last weekend on the island.  It was such a fun weekend, thank you everyone!  On Friday night the Ross Spouses Organization had a farewell dinner for the spouses that are leaving.  There was yummy food and great company, thanks RSO!  Saturday, Keith and I rented a car and drove down to Roseau and Champagne Bay one last time.  The snorkeling was awesome!  And Sunday was spent with our dear friends who really have become our Dominican Family.

Lillian and I at the RSO dinner.  She's a lot of fun and her daughters are some of the cutest girls ever.

Me, Natalynn, Liz, and sleeping Emmy.

Some of the girls from the branch.  This group was SO fun this semester!

Meet one of my favorite people in Dominica. I don't even know the people who run the "Mr. Whippy" truck, but I love them.  We lived above a grocery store for a semester and Mr. Whippy would always park outside it with his music playing.  I would go down and stand in line with the children and pay my $2.50 EC and enjoy an ice cream cone.   We ran into him in Roseau when we were headed home.

"SLOW  Mind that child!"  --Classic Dominica.

Us at Champagne Bay, my favorite spot for snorkeling.  Bubbles come up from the bottom and it looks like you are swimming in a glass of champagne, hence the name.

Keith with his Mr. Whippy.  It was delicious!

Owen and Keith outside Owens house.  We were able to give him a ride home and check out his house after church.  Owen is a local member of our church who is ROCK solid and preparing to go to the temple.  We are very excited for him!

The Portsmouth Dominica Branch Primary (minus a few kids).  

Natalynn, Sister & Elder Bruner and myself.  The Bruners have done so much good in Dominica and we will miss them very much!

Us with our good friends Paul and Natalynn Hepworth.

We had one last dinner at the Roys with all of our friends the night before we left.  Thank you everyone for coming, it meant a lot to us!  All of girls except for Liz, Kristi, and Jessie coincidentally wore pink.  

Me and the Roy kids.  LOVE these kids to pieces!

Marissa, Keith, Ben and our friend David.

Thank you everyone for making out last weekend so enjoyable!  We miss you like crazy and think of you often!  :)