Farewell

Everything we own is packed. Our cars are fueled. The only thing left is our mattress and a few boxes on the floor.

Tomorrow we start the next chapter of our lives in Logan, Utah. We are so excited, but it is strange that so much has changed in the past year! Myka grew from a newborn to a toddler. She learned to sit up, smile, roll over, laugh, crawl, wave, stand, and she is now starting to walk! Casey and I have grown so close through our struggles and triumphs. It feels like we have become a new family that is more centered around each other and the gospel. We have learned so much through our schooling, but also from living and the new experience of being parents.

In just a few weeks I will be teaching Business and Health at the high school in Logan. Casey will be one step closer to his goal of being a counselor. And of course, Myka will continue to be the center of our universe! We will have new neighbors, a new ward, new schools, but we will still be our same little family, and we will still have each other. To me that is the greatest blessing!!

Good bye Cedar City! Hello Logan, Utah!

MYKA IS 1!!!

Yesterday was such a bitter-sweet day for me. . . my Mykaturned 1! She is growing up so fast!! I always say this, but it is as true as ever -- I can't believe how much joy one little soul has brought into one little home!!! She has changed our world! She has taught us so much more than we could ever teach her. It only takes a few minutes of being around her to know without a doubt that there is a heaven! We love our bear, skunk, angel, Myk Myk, chubby baby :) (she is known by them all!).

Here are some pictures from her birthday party that we had in Vernal. Thanks to all who came and shared the fun day with us! (Srry, these pictures aren't the highest quality. We forgot our camera so used a disposable, but at least we got some pictures!)

Some of the cousins!!

Haha Braxton is sneaking some cake while we distract her :)!

Myka's first cake!

She just stuck her face right in the cake! (I think her toes were helping her concentrate!)

Myka loves going to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Buddies!

A touch of CrAzInEsS!!!

It feels like our life is absolutely crazy right now! Everything is changing so fast! By this time next month:

• Myka will be 1 :(!!!!
• I will have completed college! This includes finishing 10 finals, 4 portfolios, and preparing everything I need to student teach.
• We will be moved into the place we will be staying in Logan. We our house sitting for some people so we will probably only have a few things of our own, and then we'll probably have to rent a storage unit to put everything else.
• Along with living in Logan comes not living in Cedar :(. We LOVE southern Utah, and we love our ward and friends here!
• Thanksgiving will also be over. We are SO excited to spend the week in Vernal! Our last trips have been so quick, so it will be nice to just hang out with our family and friends!

It is amazing how fast life changes! I can't believe my little girl is getting so big, and that our life is going to be so different in just a few weeks!

Tiny Dancer

I made Myk Myk a little tutu and bow so we decided we had better get a few pictures of her in them before she got too big. It's amazing how much fun it is to play dress up again with your baby girl! This little angel has completely stolen our hearts!! Here she is . . .

She does funny nose thing so I was so glad I got it on camera!

About this time she was ready for bed, and so were we!

The BEST 2 Years!!

Casey and I celebrated our TWO YEAR anniversary this week! It is crazy how fast time flies! It has been the best two years, and it just keep getting better! I am so grateful for my husband who always treats me like the most special person in the world! He is the best dad to our little Myka bear, and the best husband! Like every couple, we have had our struggles, but there is no one in the world I'd rather be taking this ride called life with! I can't wait for eternity with him!

*Here are a few pictures of our journey!

In 2006 Casey and I met at a Snow Football Game in Salt Lake. We went on a few dates, and a few months later Casey moved to southern Utah where we dated until we got engaged in May 2007.

This is one of our first dates which was a hiking trip to Zion National Park.

The night we got engaged!

Our engagement picture!

10.12.07 Was the day I married the most amazing man, my eternal companion in the Idaho Falls Temple. After we were married we lived in Vernal, Utah, and Casey worked with his dad and brothers. We loved having the luxury of having family so close! I am very lucky to have such great in-laws!

Summer 2008 we had the chance to go on vacation to Italy. It was the trip of a lifetime, and I would love to bring our kids back with us one day!

12.6.08 the light of our lives, Myka Marie, was added to our little family! She has brought so much joy into our home!

A month after Myka was born we moved back to southern Utah to finish school. We have missed being so close to our families, but overall it has been an amazing experience for us! We have grown so much as a family and individuals.

This is Myka's special blessing day in Cedar City.

She is a daddy's girl!!

I can fit my arms around my whole world (which includes Case, of course!)!

(We are in the process of getting family pictures. I would love to put one up, but we've never had any. That will be changing soon!)

Myka is now 10 months old, I am six weeks away from having my bachelor degree in Business Education with an endorsement in Health Education, and Casey is just semesters away from having his bachelor degree. We are getting ready to move to Logan in December so Case can go all the way through his master degree to be a school counselor. We have had an amazing journey, and the best part is that it never has to end!! I love you Casey Bug!! Thank you for making me the happiest girl in the world! Happy Anniversary!!

Vernal Visit

We had the opportunity over General Conference weekend to go visit our family in Vernal. Like most of our trips these days, it was very short, but it was so fun to see everyone! On Saturday we went fishing with some of Casey's family, and we had such a good time! Myka loves being outdoors, and she loves being with her family!

When we got back from the mountain we went and saw Casey's cousins, who made an amazing rib dinner! Between the three of our families we have a lot of babies around the same age, and it is going to be so fun when they all get a little older! We also went and saw Josh and Tiff and their kids, but sadly we made it over pretty late so we couldn't stay long. We are lucky to have so many great family members! We had such a fun time seeing everyone! We can't wait to go back for Halloween!

Myka loves her daddy!!

It was a little chilly, we're really not trying to be thugs :)

Myka loves her Grandpa Hansen!

Our little rock climber.

Myka with her Kunkel cousins. Kaitlyn caught the only fish! Myka squealed and screamed when she saw the fish flopping around!

It takes a good mom to let their daughter eat dirt! Haha the scary part is she loved it!

My bundled with Grandma Hansen!

This is Myka and her cousin Kaysen. They are only about 6 months apart, and I'm afraid we could have our hands full with the two of them :).

We stopped and saw Grand on our way through Provo. We love our Grand!

PRAXIS RESULTS

The Business Praxis results are in and . . . I PASSED!! It was a lot harder than I expected with a lot of accounting and US econ questions that I was a little rusty on, but I actually scored above average. I had to wait almost a month to get my results so I have been really nervous. If I wouldn't have passed I wouldn't be able to student teach in the spring or graduate and hopefully get a job when we have been planning. Even though I have two more Praxis exams, neither is required to student teach or graduate. I am thankful to have the hardest and most important one over with! Now I just have 8 1/2 more weeks of school, student teaching and hopefully have a job lined up for Logan in the fall! Yay!!

Olympia Expo

This weekend we decided to go to the Mr. Olympia Expo to get a bunch of free things, and we ended up running into a lot exciting people. While Casey and I were looking at a map of the floor someone ran into Casey and, being a little upset, Casey turned around, and it was Ronnie Coleman. Probably NOT the guy ANYONE would want to fight! Then while we were just looking around in amazement we realized Thiago Silva was standing right next to us! He started talking to Casey, and I also met his wife. Since I think the nicest person in the UFC should win, I decided Silva should be the next world champion! We also talked to Anthony Johnson, and a few other UFC fighters (you'd have to ask Casey for the names) who were all just hanging out when it started. The expo had almost 75 different vendors, the world's strongest man championship, Olympia figure and fitness championships, and the world grappling championships all going on inside the same room at the same time! I was glad we got there early because we got to not only meet, but talk to a lot of really cool people, and we got a lot of FREE things.



I also recognized a bunch of the female fitness competitors and models since they are in every fitness magazine you can find. Jamie Eason was walking around and I told Casey who she was. I was a little embarassed because she heard me, but she told me to go over and get a picture with her, and she talked to me for a few minutes. She is one girl I would not mess with!




We also saw Forest Griffin, and you could tell he thought he was so cool. I didn't really like him, and I just wanted to tell that even though he can beat most people up, he's still ugly. He was pretty nice to Casey though, but he was too arrogant for me!

We also saw Brock Lesnar and Hulk Hogan, but we didn't talk to them. Brock Lesnar was smiling and having a good time meeting everyone. We were thinking about talking to him, but by the afternoon there were a lot of people around so we didn't even bother.

We saw a lot of exciting people this weekend, but my favorite part is that we got hundreds of dollars of FREE things!

Salmon Homecoming

Myka went flying for her first time with her Papa Infanger this weekend when he picked us up to bring us to homecoming in Salmon. Myka loved flying, but she ended up sleeping most the trip. My sister was a homecoming candidate so we had fun supporting her and my cousins who play football for Salmon. Even though it was a very short trip, we had a blast seeing the family, but we were sad Salmon lost to our long-time rivals, Snake River.

Myka and her Papa Infanger

Britt with cousins Trey and Riley.

Myka loves her Aunt Sam!

I love my beautiful sister!

Dada!!

Myka is saying "dada"!! She has said it a few times the last few days, but now she says it on command. She knows we are happy when she says it so all day we heard, "dada, dada, dada"! I'm a little jealous, but I'm sure "mama" will be coming soon! Yay for Myka!!

The Countdown has Begun. . .

We are counting down the weeks left in southern Utah, and it makes me so sad!! I'm sure there will be a few tears when we leave :(, but we are excited to get closer to both our families! We have loved the school, our ward, the weather, and the town in general. Only 13 weeks left until we will be moving for Casey to finish school, I will be doing student teaching, and hopefully find a teaching job!

Happy Birthday Casey Love!!

Yesterday Casey turned 24! It was a fun day. . . what part we spent together! We both had crazy schedules with school, and I had a class in St. George in the evening, but my Aunt Sherrie and Uncle Ron had a BBQ for Casey last night in St. George. They even had a cake for him! It was so thoughtful, and we had such a good time celebrating with them!
I just had to share how grateful I am for Casey! Like all married couples, we have had our hard times, but I would rather have some trials in life with Casey than to have an easy one with someone else! I could not be treated better-he has never raised his voice at me, not even once! He has never put me down in any way, and he is such a positive person! He is an outstanding dad and loves his little Myka bear so much! Casey has the biggest heart and would never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings. He always goes out of his way to help other people even if they are a stranger, and that is a rare trait these days of everyone trying to get ahead! I am amazed at what a wonderful person I have for a husband! He encourages me to be the best that I can, and even though it may sound cliched, he makes me a better person! He truly is my very best friend! I could not love him more, and I can't wait to spend this lifetime and forever with him!!

Blessed!

The past few weeks I have been extremely stressed, and I haven't been able to sleep or relax. . . until yesterday, when I was reassured that everything is going to work out.
This is my last semester of classes, and I am currently: taking 30 credits (which is A LOT of homework), working on my teaching portfolio, preparing for my Praxis exams, trying to keep up with my calling as the Relief Society secretary, taking my block classes which includes 3 hour classes Tues. and Thurs. and practicum in the high school classroom, trying to decide between Logan and Salt Lake for our next move, and my most important duty of being a wife and mom. I have been stressed because the engine blew a rod in our expedition, and I didn't know how we were going to make things work with both of our school schedules and church callings in one car. Also, the thought of my Tuesdays schedule had put me over the edge! I had 6 1/2 hours of classes along with Relief Society, which usually takes 2-3 hours. We found out Monday evening that Casey and my schedules overlapped so we would have to find daycare by Tuesday for the first time ever!! AHHH! I thought to myself that maybe this wasn't what we were supposed to be doing, or why would I be feeling so overwhelmed? I told Casey that maybe I needed to be released from the Relief Society presidency because I didn't know how I was going to get everything done.
As an answer to my prayers, my parents had an extra Prius we are borrowing until we are in a situation to get another vehicle. Monday evening I had a thought to call a friend in the ward to watch Myka for an hour until we could make other arrangements because I was really uneasy about putting her in a daycare. She said that she could watch her for the hour our classes overlap, and she could do that every Tuesday and Thursday for the semester! What a relief! Then I went to my 1:00 IT class, and my teacher announced we would have class every day EXCEPT Tuesday, which will take two hours off my class time on Tuesdays! AND my teacher came to me and told me I could take my Praxis in two weeks so it is done (as long as I pass), and I won't have to worry about it the rest of the semester!!
Today I feel like a new person! I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I don't think it was just coincidence that those things worked out the way they did! We have been so blessed, and I know we are right where we need to be!
Last night I was reading through a book that my dad made me and there was a quote that I decided to make my theme for the semester, it says, "Pray as if it all depends on the lord, work as though it all depends on you!" I know that if we do our part and put our faith in the lord we will continue to be blessed!

Celebrating 60 Years!

Over the 24th of July we had the opportunity to be in Salmon again for the Weeks reunion, which is my mom's side of the family, and to celebrate my grandparents' 60th anniversary!

My Grandma and Grandpa Weeks are absolutely amazing! They have been such a rock in my life-- I have always known exactly what they believed in, and at times I have used their testimony when mine has not been as strong. I am so grateful to have grown up with them living next door. I have so many great memories with them! My grandma is the sweetest person you will ever meet, and even with her health complications, she spends her time serving others. My grandpa is the funniest person, and he works so hard! I could always walk to my grandparents house growing up when I needed someone to talk to, and every Sunday we would have dessert at their house. Anytime I see a Schwans truck I always think of my grandparents. My grandpa was always at all of my sporting events, and they were always there to support me in all of my endeavors.

60 Years is the diamond anniversary because, like a diamond, their marriage has come to a point where nothing can damage it, and the luster is above all other shiny materials. They are such a great example of what a marriage should be!

At the reunion my cousin, Kory, presented "Life and the English Language According to Don Weeks" which are so funny because they are all true! It is filled with my grandpa's own language and phrases that he uses. Here are a few examples:

Bandillo: vanilla- usually talking about the nightly bowl of Schwan's ice cream.

Bear grease: His hair gel stuff--we'd wait till he fell asleep during his lunch hour and they styled his hair like Alfalfa--it would stand straight up because of bear grease.

Cat hair: not what you think it would be, but used to be a replacement for 'kee-rap' at times. i.e. "What in the 'cat hair' do you think you are doin?"

Cheese: A dear old friend, not to be confused with a food product.

Frog Hair: term of measurement on Grandpa's fine scale, if you are at the top you are 'finer than frog hair', meaning elegant beyond perception, just as the follicle projectiles of amphibians.

These are just a few of the many pages of his dictionary, which also includes his nick names for each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild!


Grandma and Grandpa Weeks


Myka and her cousins, Hunter and Zeric.



Everyone that attended the reunion!



My immediate family (except Elder Infanger in Hawaii)



After the reunion we spent the evening at the lake. While we were taking turns getting pulled behind the boat, two huge air cranes came right next to us and were getting water to fight a forest fire. The sun was setting, and the propelors were making a mist on the water. It was beautiful! The rest of the evening there were at least fifteen more that kept filling up with water next to us in the lake.

It was such a great weekend seeing my family in Idaho, I just wish we could do it more often, and that we had more time together! Thank you to all of my family who helped make it such a memorable time for all of us!