IdaHOME

     I don't know if I have ever told anyone, but I have the Best Family that I could ask for and now that also includes my great in-laws.  My dad always told me, "Kali you can't pick your relatives but you can pick your In-Laws!" haha and I would have to say that I give myself an A+ for picking my in-laws.  Anyways, my family surprised me with a trip home to IDAHO for my sister Kodi's little boys baby blessing.  My mom had harvest break the following week so I was able to stay with my family for 8 days! Ryan had a test the Friday before the blessing and the Monday after so he wasn't able to make it.  Even though I really really missed my husband it was very fun to be back home.  I froze half the time ( Arizona is still 90 degrees) but I loved the cool, crisp Fall air and of course the amazing colors of the leaves turning.

     So my big trip started with a flight up north to Salt Lake where my sister Jami and Brad with their adorable little girl Harper Jo (yep, she is named after me!!) picked me up.  She is now 5 months and is the cutest thing ever.

   Harper and I played and played all the way home to Idaho, until she just wanted her mom haha.  Once we got home I had a little present/surprise for my mom and dad.  I had already told my sisters that i got accepted/transferred into pharmacy school at Midwestern where Ryan goes but hadn't said a word to my parents.  I wanted to tell them in person.  Here is a little history....so my parents were super excited about me getting married to my wonderful husband but were a little hesitant because I was going to be giving up Pharmacy school and they knew how hard I had worked to get in.  Parents are funny, sometimes they have a harder time letting something go then their kid who is making the decision.  So on that note, I wrapped up a T-shirt that said Midwestern University CPG (College of Pharmacy-Glendale) haha and of course they didn't know what CPG stood for so I had to help them out and tell them, then they got really excited and all happy.  It was a nice surprise for them.

     Sunday came around and little Gunner LeRoy Twiss was blessed by his dad.  It was a beautiful blessing and great to have all of my family together.  It is amazing how 2 little beautiful babies, Harper and Gunner, have truly blessed my family's life.  Friendships have been renewed and love is even stronger in the Hess clan.  This was my first time seeing my little nephew and he is a cutie.  He looks a lot like his dad but is getting physical features from Kodi everyday.

Gunner, Me, and Miss Allyiah my niece

    To sum it all up, I am the Favorite Aunt.  There is no competition and my nieces and nephews love me! haha Here is a picture of Kindi's little family minus Trey.

     Before Sunday could end we had to get the usual "sister" pictures.  It was hilarious! Even though Kindi is the oldest she still is the most teased and the funnest to laugh at! haha here are a few pics.

Kindi, Kali, Kodi, and Jami

   
     I love my family and couldn't ask for better sisters.  If they only knew how much I look up to them all, they have truly helped me become the person that I am today!

     Later on in the week I was able to have some dinner with the Finn Family and it was great! It was very fun to see them, but you could tell that they really missed Ryan! Don't worry guys you will see him in November!  But I was able to go on a FUN horse ride with my sis-in-law Tiffany and the cutest little boy Tanner.  Little does Ryan know that when he isn't around me Tanner totally has my heart! haha this little guy is adorable! Oh and Tanner calls me "Kaki" it is the funniest thing ever.

Tanner kept telling me through the horse ride, "Kaki i do it by myself" he just turned 2 and has the mentality of a teenager!

   When Tanner was done riding he decided that he was going to walk Rival around.  It was the cutest thing.  Good thing I have great horses that I can trust.  Rival would walk super close to Tanner and then hurry and take a bite to eat of alfalfa before Tanner would start tugging on the lead rope.

     Before my time was up in Idaho I was able to watch my nephew Trey play football.  He is a good QB and the funniest kid I know.  They ended up losing but it was fun to be out in the cold all wrapped up in blankets to watch him.  It reminded me of the good ole high school Friday Night Lights.

 
     All in all it was a super fun trip home and I realized just how much I love Idaho and can't wait till we can call it our home again!

Our FINNtastic Life!

     So, I have had many friends tell me that I need to start blogging since Ryan and I live in Arizona now, so here I go.  Here is a little update on our fun life.  Ryan is currently in his first year of Medical School at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.  I just barely got accepted/transferred into Midwestern University Pharmacy Program and will be starting up/finishing my PharmD in June.  I transferred Texas Roadhouse restaurants down to the Peoria, AZ store and love it.  As Ryan would say, "I am the Sugar-Momma" right now.  I am so excited to be able to finish my schooling.  I had just finished my P1 (first Year) of Pharmacy school at ISU, but with marrying my sweet husband, I decided to take a big chance at transferring pharmacy schools to be with my husband.  Ryan and I spent a lot of time praying, going to the temple, and my husband telling me to be "patient" in waiting to find out if I could transfer pharmacy schools. About a week in a half ago we got the A Okay for me to finish school.

     Ryan and I were married for Time and All Eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple on July 23, 2010 and have been completely happy!  It has been the best decision that I have ever made.  I never knew that I could truly love someone as much as I love Ryan.  I have learned a lot on what it means to sacrifice for not just yourself but your family.  We moved to Glendale, AZ July 31st and Ryan started school August 3rd.  It was a very fast move and a crazy first couple of months to just be by ourselves in AZ but we LOVE IT! Even though we miss our families tons we do like being able to just have life be about us.

   Ryan is such an amazing husband and student.  He can juggle so much at one time with tests and me pestering him to go outside and play.  I don't even know if he knows what a B or C or D is in school.  He has been getting his A's and works very hard for them.  I am afraid that once I am able to start school up in June he is going to see that I am not as smart as him, that is for sure.  

    I have learned a lot just these last 2 1/2 months of being married.  I truly have a love for going to the temple and love the gospel even more then I ever have.  I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for putting Ryan in my life.  I appreciate every minute that Ryan makes me laugh.  Life is so fun and being able to be with my best friend everyday is the greatest.  You think that you love someone so much the day you get married, but I could never imagine how much my love has really grown for Ryan every day.

Ryan headed to his first day of Medical School!

   
     We only live a half a mile from school so he rides his "green machine" every day.  I try to get him to ride my Schwinn to school but Ryan worked at Barry's Sport Shop before we moved and is an "avid" bicyclist so he only rides "Specialized."

                                     
I surprised Ryan with this cake after his first day of school