Our Beautiful New Temple!

Earlier this month we had the wonderful opportunity of taking a tour of the new Rexburg temple. What a sweet experience! My mother, dad, brother, and sister-in-law came up to go with us and stayed at our home. It was so great to have them here! I wish that our family could be closer to us, but I guess it sure makes us appreciate it when we get to see them! I love them so much! I wish I had some more pictures to post, but I'm beginning to realize (sadly) that I'm not the best picture taker.


The temple is SO beautiful! I'm so thankful to have another temple close to us and this particular temple holds such a special place in my heart. (I get all weepy even thinking about it - sigh...)

My Senior year of high school, I remember trying to decide where I should go to college. From the moment that Ricks College came into my mind, there was nowhere else to even consider. I remember my mom asking me, "Why Ricks?" I told her I didn't know. That's just the only place that there is...that's the only place that is even in my mind. I remember almost 8 years exactly from today taking my first trip to Rexburg and driving down the snow and ice and "red rock" covered streets thinking, "Are you SERIOUS??? THIS is where I'm supposed to be??? It's so small and ugly!" (Any of you locals have to admit, Rexburg in February is not the most beautiful place.)

I grew up in Rexburg. I met my sweet husband there. We became a family there. All three of my babies have been born there. I gained a real testimony of my Savior, his love for me, and the Atonement. I learned to serve in His church and to love Relief Society. I learned how to follow the Spirit. I became a mother there. I met most of my closest friends there. I love Rexburg. I guess to me this temple represents all the years that I (and we) spent growing there. I have such tender memories of Rexburg.


I just want to invite any of you who would like to go through the temple, to let me know. I've found that you don't actually have to have tickets to go through. If you show up, they'll let you in. It is truly worth the drive! It was priceless to be able to take our girls into the House of the Lord and give them a chance to see inside and talk about the special blessings that the Lord has in store for us there.

Poor Elsie didn't get to go with us, as I figured that she probably just wouldn't appreciate it as much as the older girls would, but I look forward to the day when I can have all of my family with me, together, in the House of the Lord.

Winter fun in the Valley of the SUN!

Two days after Christmas my sweet mother gave me a wonderful gift! She took Elsie, Genny, and me to Arizona with her to visit my Aunt and her family! I had a hard time leaving my big girls and my hubby for 5 days, but it was fabulous to spend some time outside, in the sun, in DECEMBER, in only a t-shirt! We had a grand time playing wiffle ball and bocce ball, mafia and board games until the wee hours of the morning, and talking non-stop! It was SO fun!

I got introduced to a new game while there, called Ticket to Ride. This is my new favorite game and recommend it HIGHLY to all! I the thing I like about it most is that although you want to win (duh!) you can pretty much go through the game building your little trains and having fun without it being too competitive. (Unless of course, it's 1:00 in the morning, you haven't gotten hardly any sleep for the past two weeks, and you have a tendency to get overly emotional. --- Sorry, Jesse! I love you, I PROMISE!)

One of the highlights of this trip (and the main reason I went, besides being able to lock my sister and my mom in the car with me and my newborn for 24 hours) was getting to spend time with my cousin Amber. She and I have been as close as sisters (who live days apart) our entire lives. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful friend! It was so great to get to know her sweet little family!

I love my cousins and aunts and uncles! I am so thankful that this is such an important part of our family! I hope and pray that we will be able to keep the love and friendships that we share throughout our entire lives. So many people don't seem to have those strong relationships with their extended family and I feel so blessed that that is something that my mom and her siblings have maintained! They are truly some of my best friends in the whole world! I have such love and respect for each one of you!

Christmas 2007

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! How wonderful to have children! It was so much fun to watch Hazel and Lilie this year opening presents! (Elsie wasn't much for opening presents! In fact, she slept right through Christmas morning! Can you imagine??? :) )

This year we spent Christmas in the desert at the Chickweed Oasis! Christmas Eve was spent with Nels's brother Erik and his family in Boise. We had a wonderful time playing their new Wii with them...Emily (Nels' 6 year-old niece) is a master at pretty much every game we played and had a grand time putting us in our place. :) That evening we drove back to Mnt. Home. The rest of the Chick clan had gone down to Hagerman for the Annual Chick Christmas Party and so we spent a special Christmas Eve with just our little family. We had a lot of fun opening jammies, drinking hot chocolate, and watching the "Grinch" with our sweet little girls. It was really a new experience to spend Christmas Eve alone, but it had a really special feeling to it.

Christmas morning was pure excitement and chaos! I'm so thankful to have children and see how excited they get! I must say, Nels and I love being Santa and Mrs. Claus! I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful in-law family! We had a great time!

Merry Christmas

So . . . two days ago I thought, "You know, we're a 'real' family now, we should probably send out Christmas cards or a Christmas letter or something." And then I thought, "Should have thought of that sooner..." SO . . . here it is. Our family newsletter!

I could write a whole bunch about all the changes in our lives in the past year. But I think I'll write less and give you a picture tour, interspersed with brief commentary.

Right after Christmas last year, we moved into my parents' house to wait for a job. In February, Nels accepted a fantastic job back in Idaho Falls and we moved into this cute little rental.
We found out that we are expecting our THIRD baby girl . . .

Just starting to show . . .
Really showing.


A nine hour trip to northern Idaho to hang out with a bunch of pirates.

Three days later ---
A NEW HOME!!! (by the way, this picture is after 2 months of work...)

Two weeks after moving - at the farm boating and having fun with family.

Settling into life with a new home.


Happy Birthday to Elsie

(Just kidding about that whole - bypass the long schpiel thing)
This year has been a year of change and growth for all of us in the Chick family. We are so blessed!

Nels has been blessed with a spectacular job that he loves and that loves him! :) He is the best dad and my very best friend. Each day I am astounded at the patience that he shows for both me and my girls. He is such a good partner, always willing to help out. He teaches me so much and even after 5 1/2 years of being married, still enjoys staying up into the wee hours of the morning blabbing with me.

Hazel turned 4 this year! She is so happy and so bright! She loves helping and teaches me daily what it means to be a good mom. She loves to paint and draw and pretty much do anything messy. :) Last night the girls stayed up late painting crafts with me and she just kept on saying over and over, "I'm just so HAPPY, mom!" She writes her own name, Lilie's name, and recently started learning how to spell out other things, such as mom, cat, dad, etc. She walks around most of the day telling me what every word she can think of (which is a LOT) starts with. I'm sure she'll be ready to start reading any day now!

Lilie is nearly 3 now and is probably the most precocious child you've ever met! LOL! She is such a spicy little girl and keeps us laughing constantly. She is still a Kitty (she refers to herself as "Pink Gertie") about 50% of the time. She writes her own name REALLY well - as long as she remembers to not write her "L"s upside down! :) She is still our little MONKEY, but has gotten much more agile over the past year - which, thankfully, has helped us avoid many more bruises -- but she was rewarded with her first set of stitches this year!

Elsie was created this year! :) She is already growing and changing so much, but one thing has remained very constant - She is the most content little baby! Thank the Lord, right? She brings such a calming influence into our home and is such a joy to all of us! (Especially since she's started sleeping in her own room and sleeps for about 6 hours straight every night) She holds her head up, tries to sit up, smiles every time you look at her, and is going to love the Bumbo Santa Claus is bringing for her!

As for ME? I am constantly learning to love more perfectly. I have learned that charity is more than giving to others - it's a character trait. It's who our Savior is and what we all should strive to BE. I'm learning to simplify and relax - or at least trying. I've learned to love and hate the power that a mother has in the home . . . if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy, right? However, how could any woman ever be happy with anyone else having that kind of power over her family??? I've learned that true change takes a lot of time and a lot of effort and is probably a lifetime endeavor.
I am so thankful for the love that my Savior has given to me and have truly felt his love along the windy road our lives have taken. I also have felt his love through the family he has blessed me with. My own little family, my parents, brothers, sisters, my in-laws, and my extended family. I couldn't ask for better! I have also been reflecting on the fantastic friends he has blessed me with! Most of our close friends have been scattered throughout the country over the past few years, but it's amazing how true friendship transcends miles and time.

Thank you all for all you give and teach us! Thank you for the love that you pour out on our little family. I know that our Savior lives. I know HE loves us all.
His love is apparent in all around us! I know that as we live the commandments, strengthen our families, and continually work to be more like Him, we have nothing to fear. He will strengthen us to meet any challenge that is placed before us. I am so thankful for this time of year, for the birth of our Savior, and for the promise that we can see him again.

We love you all!
Glory to God for his precious Son and his beautiful Plan!

Merry Christmas!

The best Cookies EVER!

For anyone looking for some really fantastic cookies to make this Christmas, have I got a winner for you! Genny started making these when she was little and they are now a family favorite! I made some yesterday to take around to neighbors and will be making more to take around to more neighbors and friends. They are a wonderful to give because a lot of people either don't eat chocolate, or probably get too much . . . in short, they are a good break from the basic cookie mold. If you've never had ginger snaps (that weren't bought from the store) you are really in for a treat . . . literally!

Genny's Ginger Snaps

2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. molasses

2 eggs

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

4 1/2 - 5 c. flour

Mix all ingredients. Roll dough balls in additional sugar. Bake at 350 for 8 - 12 minutes. Makes 7-8 dozen.