Excuse me while I Interrupt this Broadcast...

Let's take a break from Baby Tyse posts for just a quick minute!

While in Ohio, Jake and I took a 5 hour drive to Palmyra, NY [this was before the awful pregnancy sickness kicked in too bad, thank goodness] to visit the birthplace of our religion. It was SUCH a neat experience and I so wish I would have blogged my feelings right after our trip. My memory sucks but I do know that we had an amazing time. 

 Driving into Palmyra was an interesting experience to say the least. It was not what we expected at all! The town itself is...well...kinda redneck! There is a lot of trailer parks...and that's about it! We ate lunch at one of the very few restaurants in town and left our food on the table after about two bits. So...yep, it was interesting. But once we got to the part of town where the church owns, it was completely different and absolutely beautiful.

[Driving to the Temple]

We started the day with a visit to the beautiful Palmyra Temple. The scenery was gorgeous. It was a very rainy day, but it made the green scenery stand out even more so we really enjoyed it [keep in mind I did not edit these pictures at all...it was really that green]. The temple is built right on the acreage of the original Smith Farm. And believe me, it was sacred ground for sure. But we almost missed out on the opportunity to do a session. We are used to going to the temple in Idaho and Utah where you don't exactly need to reserve a spot in a session. Palmyra was a little different. The session we went to was completely booked. But thanks to a very nice man at the front desk, we were able to squeeze in. And I really mean squeeze. They had to bring in a ton of folding chairs to fit everyone. But I was so glad to be there, even though it was so cramped. Going to the temple is always a neat experience, but being in Palmyra made it just a little more special. 

 [Palmyra Temple - Palmyra, NY]

My favorite part of the temple was the stained glass windows. They were so beautiful. They were made to look like the Sacred Grove. And when you looked out of them from the Celestial Room, you had a perfect view of the actual Grove. It was quite breathtaking. 

 [Temple Windows]

 [Temple Grounds]

 [Smith Farm - Temple Grounds]

After our session, we went to the actual home of the Smith Family, just a few yards from the Sacred Grove. Again, a sweet sister missionary gave us our own private our - just like we got in Kirtland, OH. We were able to walk through the home and be in the same room Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith. To make this experience even better, we were there on September 21st. This is the exact date Moroni appeared in that very room, only 190 years later. Whoa. 

 [Smith Family Home]

[The room where the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph on September 21, 1823]

After we visited a few more historical buildings belonging to the Smith Family, we were able to walk through the Sacred Grove all alone. It was just the two of us in there. It was such an amazing feeling, one I cannot even describe. 

 [The path from the Smith home leading into the Sacred Grove]

 [No caption needed. Beautiful]

After spending quite a bit of time at the Sacred Grove, we visited Hill Cumorah. I would absolutely love to visit again during the Hill Cumorah pageant. I am sure it would be so cool. Jake and I hiked up the hill and it was almost as beautiful as the Sacred Grove. We just loved it. 

As you can see, Palmyra was quite the trip! We loved it and hope to return again!

it's {just me} and my fashion faux pas...

The other day my sister Kim posted this lovely piece of reminiscing. And it got me thinking. This, plus a late night closet cleaning extravaganza, lead to the following:

I asked Jake if it would be okay if I wore the orange number to church. He didn't quite like the idea. But he did follow through with a slow dance stepped to the beat of his Linkin Park Pandora playing in the background. Touching. 

Isn't it funny how your tastes in fashion change in just a short matter of time? Burnt Orange and Hot Pink? Really Kate? 

And even better? The Orange was worn for my Junior Prom. The Pink was for my Senior Prom. I was able to squeeze [really, I don't think I even took a breath while wearing it] in the orange one. But the pink refused to zip even a little [I had to hold it shut so I didn't give you all a show]. 

Even worse? ...

This thing was so tight I could hardly breathe. It took a lot of tugging and pulling from both of us to even get the zipper up. Promise it used to be white. Ignore the grey shade it now adorns from all the mud I dragged it through. 

I dug a little deeper in the closet though and found something that still fits over my bulging hips. It gave me a little bit of my lost confidence back.

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What?? It sooo counts. 

Moral of the story? I have the worst taste in dresses. And I have definitely added my share of "badonkadonk" since I said "I Do". The end. 

it's {just me} and the mommy of Max...

High School graduation is a funny time. You make promises to all your friends that you will never ever forget each other.  You make plans for future “reunions” and promise to stay in touch.

Those promises last about a year.

It has been five years since graduation and I still think of my high school friends often and miss the fun times we had. But let's be honest here, the promises we made have faded.

Except with Tallie.

Tallie and I were best friends all through high school. And we promised to stay best friends. Even though we have not seen each other in years, I still consider her one of my closest friends.

Tallie just had the sweetest bundle of joy enter her home. I can’t wait to squeeze his little cheeks. I also can’t wait to tell him the adventures his mother and I had.

So little Max Flint, get ready to meet your Auntie Kate and hear all about the time your mom and I:

got suspended and had to hang out in the abandoned boys locker room half of the day // made a movie inspired by Charlie’s Angels for Chemistry class // jumped the red truck over the dirt hills behind your mom’s house // memorized the entire script to How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days and quoted it often // drove on the wrong side of the road in Burley and spilled our entire carton of fries out of pure fear // sang “From This Moment On” on the top of our lungs at the playground // shared secrets we would never admit to anyone else // ate our Bake Central pizza on the basketball court at the park // walked around the track a bazillion times gossiping about anything and everything // rented a million movies from BC just because we could // tried on prom dresses at state basketball // went to BC for lunch every day for pizza and Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew // made overly cheesy cards out of poster board for each other // dyed your mom’s hair in the bathtub of a hotel room // decided to be the boys basketball managers and all the fun times this job brought with it // would help each other with our duties at the big BC // drove to Almo for movie nights almost every weekend // had a sleepover in the basement next to the “dirt room” // went tanning to improve our whiteness and both ended up blistered from head to toe // would go to Dairy Queen or Arby’s every time we visited Burley // would write each other at least 2 or 3 notes a day just because // talked on the phone for hours upon hours after we moved away from home // and so. so. so. much more.

Welcome to the world little Max. You have no idea how special your mommy is to me. You are the luckiest little man in the world to have her. And your daddy isn’t too shabby either.

I love you Tallie, Dixon, and little Max. Come visit soon!