Our New Home

We made it to Utah on a Sunday after 3 days of driving from Texas. We have some friends in Lehi who let us stay with them a few days while we looked for a place to live (Thanks again Brandon & Kristen).

That Monday we drove around Midvale, Murray, Sandy, and Draper looking at apartments and townhomes. We thought that we found an apartment we liked in Draper, but when we came back to Brandon and Kristen's house we saw a for rent sign hanging on a house right across the street. We called and sure enough after our long search we ended up back where we started. That Wednesday we moved in! It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a little back yard with a fence. It's the perfect size for the three of us (Whit, Kemp, dog). Tori loves her little backyard. She's never had one to play in before...besides my parents'. She loves to bury her face in the snow and run crazy all over the yard.

I started work this past Monday. I still have a lot to learn but it sure beats sitting at home doing nothing. I like the new things I'm leanring there and can't wait to get to know more about the company. Kemp is still job searching but there are a few positions that look very promising. We are excited to finally be settled somewhere so nice for a little while. We have a lot more friends around us and we're glad to be around them again once again (except Marc- from Kemp).

We are Making a Move

Well, I guess it's safe to officially say that we are going to move to Utah. We have been debating over it for a while, but the time has come. We feel good about the decision and think that it's where we need to be right now it our lives. One of my girlfriends, Kirsten, helped me get a job out there working with Deseret Biologicals. They specialize in homeopathics, which has to do with developing and creating natural remedies to allergies and other things. (Correct me if I'm wrong Kristen) I'm excited to work there and try out their products and see if we can find something that will help me with my allergies to dairy. Kemp also has a job lined up, but it's not 100% yet. I'm sure the Lord will bless us and him with a job as we make our way to Utah.

Kent and Megan Norman Dec. 19, 08

When we went to visit Kemp's family in Idaho for Christmas, we had the opportunity to see one of my friends sealed in the Bountiful Temple. It was beautiful! We loved being a part of the experience! Megan and I grew up together in Texas. Sometime in high school she moved a few times, but we managed to keep in contact. She has always been one of my dearest friends and I was so happy to see her sealed in the temple to such a great guy.

Hawaii

December 3-10 we got to go to Hawaii with my parents and a few friends (Abell & Brit). We had a blast! The plane ride over took forever but it was worth it! We got there that evening on the 3rd and checked into our hotel, which was a time share we got through some friends of my parents.

On day 2 we went on a hike with my parents on the big island. This is the vehicle we rode to get to the hiking trail.

We saw lot of waterfalls, but nothing as big as we hoped. It's very dry on that half of the island (Kona)

After the hike we met up with Abell and Brit and went to Hapuna Beach and hung out there the rest of the day.

Inbetween jumping waves, Kemp and Abell made some chairs and sand castles. I know, very masculine huh?

Abell's castle

Kemp's Castle

My parents created a sea turtle. Pretty good huh?

Day 3: We went on a Glass Bottom Boat in Kona and walked around the strip.

Day 4: We drove over to the other side of the island and went on a helicopter ride and saw a little of the active volcanoes. We also went to the Volcanoes National Park.

That night we went to the Southern Most Point in the U.S. We saw a few dolphins out in the ocean and watched the sun set. It was really awesome!

Day 5: On Sunday we went to a church right next door to the Temple.

After church we sinned and went kayaking around Captain Cook's Monument.

Day 6: We took a plane over to Oahu. We started the day by going to Pearl Harbor.

Then we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Day 7: Abell and Brit were about to go to a session in the temple. It is a beautiful place! We had to catch a plane that morning to Kauai so we missed out on doing a session.

Once we flew into Kauai we made out way over to zipline through the forest.

Save Handmade Toys from CPSIA

Some of you may have already heard of the new upsetting laws passed. If not, the CPSC passed (with good intentions) the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which is requiring costly mandatory testing on ALL handmade children's products. That means in a few months all handmade products (targeted at children 12 and under) will no longer be available. Many people will be effected by this: mom's who made beautiful hair accessories, toys, blankets, etc. Without investing thousands of dollars on tests just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a toxic chemical. 

Here's what you can do to help:

-Find you congress person and senators and write a letter like the sample here. Particularly if they serve on the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, or the House Committee on Small Business. 

-Vote for amending the law on Change.org. With enough votes it will be presented to President Obama in January.

Please help us save our small businesses.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with my whole family: mom, dad, and brother. I don't have the biggest family so we never do anything very big for Thanksgiving. This year, I wanted to do something a little different. My mom is not a cook...I think she could be but she is very simple. We have never had a real turkey for Thanksgiving. We usually just buy some sliced turkey and heat it up in the oven at home and call it done. So, I decided to go all out and get a 10 pound turkey for the 5 of us! While I was at Walmart I debated on getting a 23 pound turkey. I know...it was a little too big for just 5 people. Before I left the store I switch it out for a 10 pounder, which ended up being the perfect size. My dad looked up a recipe on the Internet and we started cooking that Sunday morning/afternoon. Everything turned out great! I should have taken a picture of the turkey, oh well. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and feeling too full to move.