Grouchy Bear

Last Sunday, Darren and I received a phone call we had been expecting for a while. My grandfather passed away. Even though we knew it was coming, it still was hard. We are blessed to have known such a wonderful man and I am so glad to know that he is no longer in pain and he is with his eternal companion again after 10 long years. Earl Dean Kern was born and raised in Preston Idaho and he could not be more of a cowboy. He loved his horses, his family, and his wife. We were able to see him one last time at Tyler and Lisa's wedding back in December so we are left with only good memories. On Monday April 23, 2012 We will be celebrating his life with our family close by. We was a true role model to me about how a marriage should be treated. My grandparents were married just shy of 55 years when my grandmother passed away 10 years ago. I know they are both look down on me and rooting me on in my life and only wanting the best for Darren and I.



This picture was at my wedding just three years ago. I love and miss you Grouchy Bear!
Earl Dean Kern 1924-2012

Updates since January!

A lot has happened since January when I updated this last. We finished out holiday season in Seattle with lots of fun adventures!





We went to a Thunderbird hockey game with the entire family, and then also went to the Ballard locks. The Ballard locks are where Lake Union and the Puget Sound meet and it has channels where boats go through to get to one or the other. The boats travel in on one side and then the water either raises or falls to the level of where they are going to. It is so fun to go and watch all the boats go through. We have been lucky enough to experience the Ballard Locks on our own boat!





We also had the chance to go to Snoqualmie Falls. It is a beautiful waterfall that is not far from my home town of Maple Valley. We hadn't been there in years, so it was fun to see all the changes that they are doing to the visitor center. After our time in Seattle, we headed back to Boise. We loved our time there and had a lot of great memories. We loved how there was a greenbelt to go around the Boise river. We went on in regularly and will really miss this. I finished my student teaching back in November, and was offered a long-term subbing position for a teacher that is on the fourth grade team. This was a great experience to have and I know that it will really help when I continue to look for jobs.



At the end of March I went back to Maple Valley to help with 5th grade camp at Camp Casey. I loved going when I was a camper, a high school counselor, and I still love to go as a teacher now! The students have such a fun time to get away from the school and to learn and a whole new environment. Once camp was over, my mom and I drove back to Boise and finished cleaning our house (Darren moved us while I was in Seattle!). Once we checked out of our house in Boise, we made the 4 hour travel to Rexburg. It feels good to be back. We can't wait to finish with school and then be on to more and exciting things! :)