Thanksgiving In Pahrump, Nevada

Yes, that's right, Pahrump, Nevada. Where is that you ask?
We'll take you there!

ROADTRIP!!!

Somewhere northeast of Barstow in the middle of the middle of nowhere is the bustling town of Baker, California: Population 914. It's main attractions are it's several overpriced gas stations and small diners including where we stopped to eat lunch at the Famous Pancake House that just six months ago was a Denny's...(It must of really climbed the pancake house charts to be so famous so fast!)
It is also home of the world's largest thermometer which during the Summer months reads over 115 degrees almost every day.


After eating with the family we headed north with full stomachs on toward Death Valley.




The scenery was stunningly...absent. I spy a Jeep, a telephone pole, and a bush. Do you see them?
All sarcasm aside, Death Valley is home of the ever-so popular Dumont Dunes, where many gather each weekend to ride quads and dune buggies. Dumont is one of few soft sand deserts, much like a small scale Sahara Desert. It was actually pretty cool to see after driving with hours of nothingness.

After passing a few dozen RVs with trailers and traveling another 45 minutes into the heart of Death Valley we make a right turn and cross the border from Death Valley, California to Pahrump, Nevada. We were met with this wonderful sign and heartwarming message:

If you look closely behind the sign you can see the city...look VERY closely...yes, there it is!





We Made It!!!
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
We hope you had a great one, too!
-Guest post by Sheehan :)

Halloween!! 2009

!Happy Halloween!!!

We spent Halloween in Tehachapi since our ward's Halloween activity was the night before. We had a great day! We went golfing, sailing, walked around Green Street, Bear Valley Ward's activity, then went to Lyssa's for games!

Ever since Sheehan and I saw the newest Star Trek movie we knew what Sheehan's costume would be. We love the actor Zachary Quinto (courtesy of Heroes) and since he was an awesome Spock....

I thought Sheehan's hair would be perfect for it. He wore his costume almost everyday he was so excited! He was our honorary costume man since no one else was dressed up. We even made him trick or treat. He would walk up and say, "Live long and prosper".

(*Disclaimer: We are hardly Treky fans but the last movie was pretty sweet....)

Sailing was one of the best parts of the day! Sheehan brought his best friend, Aaron Craig with us and we were all dying laughing at them in the sailboat together. They couldn't even get off the reeds then they almost flipped our little sailboat.

It was great being with everyone and having Devin home for the weekend. I'm excited for more fun memories with our family together!

Laundry...Ugh!

This is how I do the Laundry.

It is apparent that Sheehan does a lot of the cleaning and maintenance around the apartment.

Our New Baby Chinchilla!

Milly!

We got a new chinchilla. We decided Max needed a friends so we got him a chinchilla bride. I can't help myself...I L-O-V-E animals! Especially my little chinchillas.

There was a lady in Apple Valley that has a herd of 75 chinchillas! She asked me if I was from the city of Apple Valley because she is having disputes with the city about how many animals she was housing. She was the cat lady of chinchillas... I thought she was going to kill us and steal Max. How else did she get 75 chinchillas!? Anyway, after doing chinchilla speed dating we decided on Milly.

Disneyland with the Nelsons!

We had a great family trip to Disneyland on October 15th. Clyde and his wife Britney drove down from St. George. My Mom and Dad (Suzette and Kevin) came down. Aunt Michelle, Zach, and Aaron came. Along with Deven, Alyssa, and baby Kiley. Ian, Big Mike, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Clyde also took the day to come to DISNEYLAND!! We were quite a crowd.
Clearly I am scared out of my mind. I also enjoy Big Mike's reaction on the back third row. Sheehan had a penny floating above his hand. 2 seconds later the penny hit the roof and then my leg.

Labor Day Dutch Oven Extravaganza!!

Our Dutch Oven Extravaganza (D.O.E.) was awesome!!

Who knew Sheehan could cook!?

It was so fun being with all of our family. The Nelsons, the Antaloczys, the Perrys, and Sheehan's parents the Walkers.

After a lesson on how to use the pioneer cookware, WE ATE....... A LOT of food all day. It was delicious!!

Our menu:
Scott's Breakfast Special, zucchini cakes, sourdough bread, jalapeno cheese bread, enchiladas, cheesy potatoes, chicken and dumplings, and HOMEMADE BUTTER!!!

Ian showing off his dutch oven skills to the ladies....

The breakfast special was personally my favorite but the enchiladas seemed to be a big hit.

Now our family is ready to trek across the U.S. What is our weapon you ask....the dutch oven?

Thank you Sheehan for all of your hard work and planning.

We will be eating dang good!

Church Callings

Sheehan D. Thomson, “The Den Leader”

Kiersten L. Thomson, “Second Counselor, Young Women’s Presidency”

Sheehan and I really do like our callings, very much.

I do enjoy getting to know the Young Women. It feels like I’m in a continuation of being the Laurel President. I am so bossy and controlling I pretty much self-appointed myself a sub-leader in my Young Women’s years. So now it doesn’t feel much different except it really is my calling. I often hear this from down the hallway, “Hey Homie, Hey Sister T.!” or “OMG, you look fabulous!”

Sheehan is the den leader….he is a big Cub Scout at heart and is living the cub scout years that he never had.

Some quotes from the Cub Scouts:

• Sheehan explaining that the pack is going to help one boy get his Arrow of Light. Justin raises his hand and says, “Don’t you think that will be kinda boring for the rest of us.”
• After making a mini marshmallow catapult, one cub yells out, “Let’s play puppy poops!” Then begins counting the marshmallows that he stuffs into his mouth until he can no longer pronounce “puppy poops”.
• Justin, “Since I was sick last week because I had a sunburn can we do Legos again this week?”
• Sheehan was carpooling a couple boys when the car broke down. Mid-breakdown Samuel says, “Why is the car shaking?...”

The Question: How is married life?

I hate this question. How in the world do you answer it?! … “Terrible. Just Terrible.” Or “Oh, it just lovely! I love being married!” Or do you stay neutral, “It’s great. Good. Reallll Good.” After these one lined statement people just smile and wait there awkwardly waiting for more detail but do they really want more detail. I don’t think so… so they say,

“Well that’s good. It’s an exciting time in your life.”

I think it is safe to say in any stage, “It’s an exciting time in your life.”

Childhood = “Obliviousness is bliss. No care in the world."

Teenage = “These are the best days of our lives.”

Adult = Don’t know a saying for this stage. Maybe it’s not so great a time. Although, I think it is, it is a time of independence, it is the one stage you are in control of your life! Do you feel empowered… I do.)

Elderly = “The Golden years.”

Disneyland !! August 24th, 2009

Disneyland !!

Said to be “The happiest places on earth!! And I very much agree with that statement!

There is something about the music, characters, rides, cookies, statues, shows, fireworks, and general happiness that makes Disneyland bring a tear to your eye. You can forget about your bills, job, and obligations; Just enjoy your day! I don’t want to hear all of the complaints about how hot it gets and how long the lines are… maybe you just don’t know how to do Disneyland like I do! Keegan, Lauren, Katie would you agree please…. Thank you. Devin's face may just be my favorite one here.

I’m an Aunt…

Alyssa had her Baby!
Kiley LaRae Perry was born on 9-9-09. Sweet birthday, eh? I thought so…

We, as in my family and I, have decided that my Aunt name will be Auntie Beetle. It may sound strange to you. I would tell someone to think twice about dubbing themselves Aunt Roach or Uncle Tarantula. Not very inviting, ya know…

Beetle has been my life long nickname with various alternatives to it. (Example: Beetle Loda) When I was learning to read I came across a picture of a Beetle in a picture book and tearfully exclaimed, “I am not a beetle! Don’t ever call me that again!” It still stuck despite my loathing the nickname, but as with many things, first we loathe it, then we tolerate it, then we embrace it… I am now at the embracing stage.

So Auntie Beetle it is!!!

Kiersten's Graduation

“Kiersten LaRae Haub

graduated from

Bakersfield College in May 2009

with an

Associate in Science degree in Biology, emphasis in Human Biology.

Magna Cum Laude.”

The crowd cheers…

My graduation was great! It was nice to have Alyssa, Sheehan and my parents there to support me.

I could not believe I was shown up by another girl as the youngest graduate as I was only 18 years old! She is 4 months younger than me and had a grade point average of 4.0. Dang it! My GPA was a 3.8.


If you have ever seen happy feet and remember the Mexican hombres, that is what the people behind me were like… but girls. To each other they were all, “Hey! Watch it, watch it, I’m graduating girl! I’m going to look so good while I’m graduating! Watch out!” All I could think of was George Lopez’s Why you crying? stand up comedy show.

Gotta love Bakersfield …

Our sides of the story. Dating and Summer Movies

We wrote these seperately when we were dating back in September of 08.
--> Summer Movies Part One

-->

Well, I hardly remember anything from the movies we went and saw this summer because all I could think about was that I was siiting next to him. I heard Batman was a great movie though, but I wouldn’t know… ha ha.
A couple times I was wondering how he was still in his seat. Sheehan would slide sooo far down in his seat. I wondered if he was even sitting in his chair anymore….
We started a tradition of being the last people to leave the theater. We would sit together and stare at the credits pointing out funny names. Who are we to be talking though? Sheehan…Kiersten…Hmm… :)
One of the sweetest things he ever did for me was when he bought all of my favorite candies. He kept whipping out another and another… my love for him grew with every chocolate bar. :) I just wanted to jump out of my seat and hug him. I just thought he was amazing because he remembered MY favorite candy bars. He thought of me and that made me feel like I was special to him.

Summer Movies Part Deux

The first time I went to the movies with Kiersten I had the whole day planned out. I picked out a spot to knock on doors for a couple of hours. It was right next to a Vons and the plan was to pick up her favorite candy before I headed over to the theater. As I started knocking on doors there was no way I was going to sell a pest control service; a couple of people opened their doors, but I was in la la land thinking about Kiersten. Surprisingly, this area was full of bugs and I ended up getting a sale within 45 minutes. That made the day that much better. I knocked for a little while longer and finally RAN back to my car full speed. I had to pick Kiersten up at the Institute building in an hour, but I wanted everything to be right. I went to Vons and picked up some Kit Kats, but had a really hard time finding the Wild Berry Skittles (I looked at EVERY checkout stand!!!). I did happen to find the Cadbury Caramel chocolate squares so I threw those in my little basket :) Since I didn't find the Skittles at Vons I jumped in the car and on the way to the Institute building I stopped at an ampm and let a homeless man wash my windows for $3 while I got the Skittles. I had a lot of bugs on my window and he did a really good job... 

I got to the Institute building and picked up Kiersten. I can't remember if that was the night that we went to Subway and those crazy folk were having a mafia meeting/gathering around the trash can...oh well, we went and saw Get Smart. I remember trying to hide the candy from Kiersten. The plan was to put the bag in my jean pocket... well, it was REALLY fat. I tried to stuff it in my pocket and I literally had to shove it in. I looked like I was wearing parachute pants. Kiersten rolled her eyes and was definitely embarrassed. I had her hold my hand on the side with the candy as to conceal it secretly from the unwary ticket-taker. I was kinda scared I'd get caught, but this kid was clueless. He was looking everywhere but at us. My heart rate went down and we finally got inside. I hardly remember any of the movie because I was thinking about how much I liked Kiersten. I thought about why. Before too long, I had slipped down into my seat. It was unusually comfortable so I stayed there. Kiersten looked at me like I was insane. *shrugs shoulders* oh well. The movie seemed to be over after I finally had a chance to stop thinking about her for two seconds. Then we would just sit there during the credits until everyone left. I loved being around her. I was so comfortable and had a great time.

Kiersten's First Wives

These are Kiersten's first wives. They were excellent companions... Very loyal. So much so they risked their lives putting snow flakes on the ceiling for a Christmas activity. All in the name of LOVE.... haha

Married 4 months and loving life!

We're Married! 4 months and going strong! We live in Victorville, California which is where you live right before you go to Death Valley. What brought us here? Sheehan is selling ADT home security systems... self explanatory. We are here until March 2010. Then we will go back to Utah where Sheehan will go back to school. Major: Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Kiersten's major: Nursing (that's as far as we've gotten on that one.)

Yosemite June 2009

Our Art Class! It was fun to see everyone's interpretation of our view.... we're not sure where Katie saw sailboats and a hot air balloon fly across Half Dome.

MY FAVORITE PLACE ON EARTH!!!

I love Yosemite! This was another great trip beside the fact that my voice was gone and I had a really deep voice... It rained almost the whole week. Some could say it put a damper on our week but we looked at it as just another experience. Nothing went as planned but, of course, we still had a great time!

Pictures From Our Wedding

Here are most of the pictures from our wedding day. March 21st, 2009. 

Sheehan waiting for me in the hotel lobby.  

 Sheehan getting ready at 6:00 in the morning. We took pictures before the sealing which was going to be at 10:30 am. 

 Sheehan's first time seeing me in my dress. 

 Our rings. Sheehan picked out my ring and was able to customize it a little. I love it!

 Sheehan and my Dad.

 Leaving to take pictures

 My bouquet!

 He's so handsome...

 We took our pictures at Balboa Park in San Diego, California. I love it there. The weather was perfect and the pictures turned out beautiful. 

Some of our group waiting outside the temple for us to come out after the being sealed forever!

 Our official video man Aaron Antaloczy.

 Sheehan's Mom, Colleen. 

 Norm Walker, Grandma Bev's Husband

 Coming out of the temple! We had to go back and do it twice because the couple that was going to go before us wasn't quite ready so they told us to go ahead. The only problem was their family was in front of ours expecting them to come out. We ran back and came out again when our family moved in front of the other. 

boutonniere's

 Shay and Sheehan

Sheehan's Grandma Candy Busby

 Uncle Clyde and Kiersten's Dad (Kevin)

 Sheehan's family

 Our whole wedding party.

 The cute kids

 My parents

 Sheehan's siblings (some of them at least)

 Me and my Dad.

 Elise, Pierce, Eli, and Payne

 Sheehan and his brother Seth and his girls Ashley and Michelle.

 At our reception

 Me and my brother, Devin.

 Scott speaking at our reception.

 Let them eat CAKE!!

 Cutting our delicious cake

 The San Diego temple. Sheehan said we should get married there because it looks like a castle and I am princess so a princess needs to get married in a castle.

 Our wedding announcement.

It was a beautiful day. I was a young 18 years old and Sheehan was 22. We were excited to be together and had big dreams for our future.