Boise Zoo

We decided to get an annual pass to the Boise Zoo. Everyone in our family benefits from it, so we decided to splurge.

We were surprised by the variety of animals and how nice it was. There was a lot of trees, therefore a lot of shade. There weren't elephants, rhinos, big bears, wolves. But there were girrafes, hyenas, wallabies, kukabura bird (they even laughed for us) 6 ft africa cranes, hornbill birds, wart hogs, red fox, flying fox bats, lions, sloth bear, komodo dragon, 395 lb tortoise.... and more. Quite a few things I've never seen before.

We easily spent 3.5 hrs, and we still had more to see, but we were tired and hot. So we decided to call it the day and visit the rest another day.

Their playground was a lot of fun....

One of the coolest slides I've seen...

One of their recycling bins. They also had a dolphin, cute!

They had exhibits of a African rural home, clothing and art display, and other safari living exibits.

The wallabies, I don't think I've ever seen them before. Pretty cool...

We were impressed and we're excited to go throughout the year.

We decided to go back the next weekend. There were hundreds of butterflies from Costa Rica. It was awesome! The ones with "eyeball" spots had bright blue wings on the back. So pretty.

This is more parts of the playground. So fun!!

Grandpa Neibaur

Around the middle of July, I got a sad phone call from my mom saying that Grandpa Neibaur had been diagnosed with pancreatic stage 4 cancer. He was given a maximum of 6 mos to live, but gratefully the cancer was located on the tail of the pancreas. This meant he wouldn't be in a lot of pain. Huge blessing from what I have heard.

So after we had moved to Nampa, we went to a family reunion with the Bares and Hebdon's at Bear Lake at a nice cabin there. Then we were able to visit at Arimo for a few days and visit Grandpa and Grandma Neibaur. 

It is very hard for me to grasp the idea that my grandpa is dying. I love him so much and just think the world of him. He's been such a tremendous example of love, righteous use of the priesthood, fatherhood, devotion to his wife....and a testimony of the Gospel, Christ, temples, and gratitude for America. 

Because our family is so big, it's hard to coordinate visits. But we were able to go with Kevin's family and mom for a few hours on a Sunday. Grandpa shared some stories of growing up, playing football, courting grandma. He shared some fun stories. One was my mom was born in the waiting room, waiting for another lady to deliver. He was charged with a delivery room bill, and challenged it. Haha, baby number 4, and she just couldn't wait to come into the world!! 

He was doing well, but after awhile he got tired. Grandma came home from church so we wanted to visit for awhile.

It was so nice to see her come up the stairs of her home in Bancroft with a big smile on her face. I introduced myself, she has had some form of dementia for years and has often needed reminding who I was. She smiled big at me and said, I know you're Krystell. I started to cry, and gave her a big hug. It was a sweet tender miracle for me, during a time of sadness. One of the saddest parts of Grandpa dying is leaving her behind alone, where her world is already so confusing. He is the one things she can always count on. 

Grandpa has expressed concern for her and wants to make sure she is getting cared for after he has passed on. 

Mortality os hard sometimes. It's hard to let people go and move on. The only thing that softens the blow is believing God's plan and Eternal families. 

Change, whether it's for the better, is a definite in life.

Well, one of those times that you think will never happen, happened. Unfortunately,  Joe lost his job unexpectantly due to an incident that was out of his control. We were both shocked and devistated. We really enjoyed living in Washington Terrace, the ward, and neighbors. We lived 1.5 hrs from Arimo, 45 min commute for Joe, and we had a 3 bedroom  and gated backyatd house we rented. We felt like it was "home".

We realized that we had to find something quickly, and so Joe applied at St Luke's in Nampa Idaho for both of us to have jobs. We both got interviews, but we were only sure that Joe was going to get a job. I had not worked in almost a year, so we agreed that we had to make me getting a job a priority or all the time and effort I put into getting a bachelor's degree and learning to do ultrasound would become jeopardized as people don't want to hire someone who hasn't worked in a long time. We decided maybe it was time to try a traveling tech opportunity because the housing would be provided and Joe could focus on trying to get registered in CT. Krystell got a job offer in Derry, NH within a week and we were both very excited. However, the details in the job description about pay and benefits were deceiving when we looked more into it, and realized we would not be able to make as much money as we hoped.

At the last minute St Luke's in Nampa called and offered both Joe and I positions and we decided that might be the best decision for us right now. So we packed up and we have moved in within 3 weeks, into Joe's mom and brother Phil until we figure out where we want to live. It is bitter sweet and we were both so excited to live in the east coast and be 45 minutes from Boston. But, perhaps as a tender mercy from the Lord, we have come to like Nampa and the Boise area.

Potty Training

We are excited to say that Addie is potty trained with #1!! She rarely has accidents and does such a good job initiating going by herself. Sometimes when we are out or with family, she gets too distracted to remember to go and she gets angry whenever I mention it. So we just let her direct what happens. But she does really good. When she had a sick tummy, she did really well at going #2, which was exciting. She doesn't do it often in the potty, but usually goes in her diaper during "naptime/quiet time" or night time. She did do it once a couple of weeks ago, one morning without asking for help until it was time to wipe. And we were so excited for her. But it hasn't happened since.

But what a relief, and what a relief on our wallet too! Jojo gets interested and wants to go potty, but only long enough to take his diaper off and sit for a minute,  then he is done. So I have become annoyed with that and ignore his requests, horrible I know. Maybe when I get brave again I will focus on him.

Idaho Falls Temple Open House and early Memorial Day Celebration

The Hebdon family were able to go this weekend to see the Idaho Falls Temple Open House of the renovations they had done. I was excited that everyone was going to be there, and we could do family pictures so Jojo could be in them! But Joe got sick just a few hours before leaving, so sick that I decided he needed to stay home. And then the water situation required my dad to stay home to work. But it was still a great experience and we thoroughly enjoyed being with family.

Highlights: Jojo really liked the creation room mural and exclaimed "elephant" when he saw the animal. 

Addie really liked a chair that she sat on to put her shoe back on. So much so that she didn't want to leave.

Addie wasn't really cooperating, however I was able to get some candid shots, which is really hard with her. So I was happy. Jojo was just happy playing with his cousins, so not as many fun pictures of him. 

We then went to the falls to take more family pictures. Jeff always does such a good job. And considering how manys kids were there, they did pretty good too. So grateful for my family helping me out with my kids. They behave so much better with them, then with me.

The Bare's: Jeff, Alyssa, Stephanie, Jenna, Jared, and Aimee.

There were 3 pictures of me and my kiddos, but I can't figure out why it cuts off half. No doubt it is due to my phone. So here is a typical picture of one of my kids trying to run away from me.

The Hebdon's: (back) Rachel, Kevin, Adam. (Front) Caleb and Benjamin.

Grandma Linda Hebdon with her grandkids.

We then drove to Rexburg to visit my sister Stephanie's daughter Kaitlyn's grave. Their family visits their girl every year. I want to say "baby girl" but she isn't a baby in heaven. I've been ablt to join them a few times, and it's always such a special experience. It's always touchingto see the love and reverence Kaitlyn's siblings have for her. It will be a happy reunion some day.

Kaitlyn Nicole Bare's grave.

The next day, Sunday, after Sacrament we went to Lava Hot Springs Cemetery to visit my mom's sister Aunt Trish. Then Bancroft for my Grandpa Hebdon. It's been a few years since I have neen there. It's a beautiful headstone. And my Aunt Kathryn, my dad's sister is next to him. And then we drove up to the Yost Cabin outside of Bancroft to visit the memorial of my Uncle Date (husband to my mom's sister Vicki and childhood friend of my dad's). It was a good visit to honor those whom we love.

Date Yost's memorial.

Grandpa Russell Hebdon's grave.

Aunt Kathryn Lowell's grave.

Aunt Trisha Avery's grave.