Trip out to IL & WI

A few weeks ago we traveled back to visit my family in Illinois and Jake's in Wisconsin. We had a very nice time sitting and catching up with everyone. It had been to long since we'd seen everyone. :) Now its for sure all of ya'lls turn to come pay us a visit. ;) Here are a few pictures of our stay. Most of them are from when we took Caleb to the Shed aquarium and I wish I had been more bold to bring my camera out more often after that. However what was taken is still enjoyable to look at.

Time with Friends and Family

Life has felt like a mini whirlwind since Jake has returned home. Between settling back into married life, visiting and catching up with friends/family that Jake has not been able to really see and talk to for the past few months and me adjusting to my new promotion responsibilities and new early early work schedule making a tremendous need for naps ... well ... life has just been rather different recently. :)

Right after Jake got back we went out to dinner with our Church Family to see our sweet friends Joe and Carli off as they moved up to Alaska the next day.

Their presence and in person friendship will be missed! :) Below are a few misc pictures from our night out together and a few pictures with Church family. Enjoy!

This next picture turned out really blurry but I'm still posting it because I like the bright smiles you can see through the blurriness.

Graduated and Home TOGETHER at Last!

Jacob graduated from the academy yesterday and is now home to stay!!! All of his studying payed off when he got an 'A' on his finals and then ended up graduating 3'rd in the class. Now its onto the next hard task of finding a job. :) He has applications in at a few places however it takes a few months to be tested and for all the paper work to be filed so it may be a while before I'm posting about a hired position. Unfortunately I can't share any of the fun group or individual photos from the academy for privacy and copywrite reasons but I hope to bring a photo album with us the next time we visit. :) I still can't believe that he is home to stay. A part of me is still trying not to get 'to attached' or 'to used' to him being around to avid hurt when Monday comes and I don't wake up next to him. I think that it most likely won't really sink in for either of us until next week comes however we do know that for now, we are completely and utterly overjoyed that he is home and that we are TOGETHER!! :D

Puppy Video

Here are a few video snippets from the first night we brought the puppy home. She has grown quite a bit since we made this! In looking back I had forgoten what a little hoggie roll she was. Now you can actually see her legs and eyes not to mention she has finally grown a neck! :)

Eating Ghost Peppers

Here is a video from a few weeks ago when the in-laws were visiting. Jacob had brought home some 'ghost peppers' from school for the guys to try. Ghost peppers are just one of the many things Jake has learned about while being at the dorms with the other police students. Lock a couple dozen 20-30yr old men in one building with cabin fever setting in and one can only expect for something like this to happen!! :) They have engineered hotter peppers, but this is currently the hottest natural pepper known to man. Somehow Jake 'forgot' to mention this little fact to the guys until after they popped it into their mouths . . . ;)

Puppy-Sitting . . .

My mother-in-law Kathy has been looking for a blue healer puppy for a while now and has finally found one here in Bismarck that she decided to get. Since we are planning a trip out to WI/IL in January, Jake and I agreed to pick up the puppy and care for it until we can deliver it in a few months.

Soooo I get to puppy-sit for a while! :) . . .

This little girl is just six weeks old and full of cuteness and energy. She looooooves to sit and cuddle while I enjoy a cup of coffee but she also likes to move, a lot!! . . .

Jake was her favorite "puppy-sitter" when we first picked her up and would howl non-stop if he left the house however after he left again for school she attached herself to me and is now practically glued to my heals. In  fact, she stays so close on my heals and moves around with me so much that its hard to even get a picture of her! Usually my attempts at photographing her end up looking like this . . .

Today was the first day I was able to back away from her just long enough to snap a few quick pictures.

But even then she was still moving more than my camera and I wanted her to. :)

*note the green grass and leaves that us north'dakotains are still enjoying* ;)

I have some cute video of her and a funny video of the guys *trying* to eat ghost peppers (supposedly the hottest pepper on the planet right now) but those will have to wait till another post seeing as I can't find the cord to get them off of my camera! :D

In-Laws in Town . . .

A few weeks ago Jake's parents drove in from Wisconsin and his other brother Jesse flew in from California for a visit. It was nice to visit with them through-out the week and get to know them a little more. Jacob also came home for one weekend during their stay(!!). On their first day there everyone hit the racket courts. The Crooks play quite well ... and ... me? Weeeell I seem to still be providing more entertainment than providing competition. :) But I try . . .

"I see the ball!"

"I don't see the ball"

"Wait were did the ball go??"

"Come on it was right in front of you!!"

"Sorwy"

"Cheeeese!"

That evening we just sat and chilled at our house . . .

The next day (Sunday) we had quite the full house for the afternoon Church meeting . . .

Later on in the week Kathy gave me some much needed lessons which was rather enjoyable and fun.

Kathy Liz and I also went out for some girl time which was rather relaxing . . .

I borrowed this next picture because dinner was to fabulous to go un-pictured . . .

Dinner at the Olive Garden ... mmm mmm mmm!!! :)

Kathy & Dean got a motel room their last night here so that they could watch the kiddos and play in the pool. I also borrowed the below pictures to show what a fun place it was for the kids to play in . . .

On their last day here we all went out for breakfast at Cracker barrel.

And here is one last picture of the gang (minus Jake of course).