Birthday Pictures

Sorry I overloaded everyone's feed tonight. I am in heaven. No school and three days off from work means that I can take & edit pictures all day long....

On Sunday Cameron and I skipped out on the third hour of church (cut me some slack...it was my 21st birthday, I had to be somewhat rebellious). Instead, we drove to wheeler farm and hiked into the snowy forest for a few family pictures. Cameron got me a tripod for my big day. (I had a tripod once, but it fell over one day with my camera on it and it lost all my trust....so this is a slowly learning to trust deal).

Anyways...we set the self timer on the camera and I ran into each shot. It was super fun. It started getting really snowy, and the pictures got super foggy. I was worried about getting everything all wet so we went back home, but, for the little time we were there, I think we got some fun shots :)

ps....I have a strange feeling santa is bringing me a camera remote for christmas, so hopefully cameron and I can have more of these impromptu mini sessions together :)

Stockton the cat

Since the day we got engaged I begged cameron to let me get a kitten when we were married. He continually told me "no." Then one day, after we had been married, he told me "yes." We rushed to the humane society and picked out the last male kitten they had. They had a play with him in an isolated room (to make sure we'd all get along). We signed some paper work, paid way too much to adopt him, and then drove home. For some reason (I can't remember why now) cam & I had taken separate cars. Stockton rode home with me. He was meowing so much I felt bad and could hardly stand it. So, at the next red light, I opened his little cat carrier and let him out. He explored the car and then rode on my lap the rest of the way home.

He has been the best cat. He is so loving and fun. He has the funniest little quircks and meows SO LOUD when either cameron or myself come home from work/school. He hates being left alone.

He LOVES car rides. We drive him to my parents house, gas stations, and even just to drive. He loves it.

His favorite toy is a stuffed monkey. He carries Monkey everywhere. They are the best of friends.

Cameron, in the span of six or seven months, has turned into a full blown cat man. So much so....That when we met John Stockton, Cameron's idol, about a month ago, Cameron told John that we named our cat after him. John Stockton, THE JOHN STOCKTON, looked up and cameron and said "Your cat?!" He was totally weirded out, but laughed. I went bright red and Cameron told him that in order for me (kayla) to get a cat he got to choose the name....Poor John, bet he never thought he'd have crazy cat people name their cat after him.

hard things.

my heart is completely broken. I spent friday night at the temple praying and quite honestly, crying. I am so grateful for the gospel and for the peace I find in the temple.

When I came home, cameron had come home from school. Instantly he knew something was wrong. He held me as I cried and told him what I had been told that day...and then he held me longer.

He suggested we read my patriarchal blessing. It brought peace into our home and into my heart. He is so good to me. As we were reading, I noticed the date on the blessing. December 6, 2009. The day we read it, December 6, 2013. Exactly fours years after I had received it. It means more now, than it did even then. We cried as we read it.

Sometimes in this life we have to face hard things, and not all of those are things are from our choices. Often, they are caused by the choices of those we love. My love hasn't changed, but that doesn't mean I am not completely sad and disappointed.

I will never understand how someone can walk away from so much happiness. I don't understand.

as of late.

I really wish I had more time to blog. But things are just so busy it kind of gets put on the back burner. Today, however, I'm sicker than a dog & haven't left my bed for more than five minutes at a time. So...I guess it takes me being sick to blog.

Cameron & I are in our last week of this crazy semester. I can't wait to have a couple weeks where all I have to do is work and then come home and enjoy my sweet husband. I am going to cherish the next three weeks. Cameron took 18 credits this semester. EIGHTEEN. and did fantastic in every class. He is the smartest man I know and works harder than any one I know. I took 12....Like the slacker I am. Only three semesters left (for me). Next semester cameron & I are taking a saturday morning golf class together. I'm pretty excited. We've never had a class together. EVER. I can't wait to beat him in golf every week. 

In other news, after our home recovered from the flood (that might be another post for another day) cam & I decorated our apartment. I love how excited he gets for things like this. We got a real tree (something I've never ever done) and I really love it. We used the extra bows from the tree to make the pine cone wreath and the wall thingy...

random branches on the wall

wreath by the creative cameron

christmas tree lights

see the cat ornament? It's black w/ the blue light? I accidentally broke it at the store and felt so guilty we bought it. Cameron glued it back together and it has become our favorite ornament. Good thing I broke the black cat one and not the orange cat...haha it matches our little family perfect. 

cute little tree that my parents got for cam & me

There is nothing I love more than cuddling by our fireplace with the christmas tree lights on. Pure bliss. 

That time we went on a honeymoon to Hawaii

It was like 6 months ago, but whatever. It was seriously the best vacation ever. I love my sweet husband. I am so grateful my dad put so much work into planning our trip. He completely spoiled us. 

Such a perfect week with the perfect boy. 

the balancing act

sometimes life can be crazy & busy.
right now I feel like cameron and I don't have any free time. at all.

I couldn't tell you the last time I watched TV...or blogged. ha.

we work from 8 - 4:30 and then go to school until 9, or have loads of homework. we spend our nights writing papers and reading textbooks. super romantic.

it is such a juggling act to get everything done that we need to. and then throw in our church calling, visiting/home teaching, families, car problems (that's a whole other post), and all the other life crazies.
essentially, my life is entirely busy. I am so grateful for the small moments in which I can just enjoy life.
I am grateful for the quite. for the saturdays that can be spent cuddling in the morning and making breakfast for dinner.

Also....I am grateful that I will be graduating next year at this time. peace out college. I am beyond done.

i love

i love to create pretty things. 

this might be my favorite...ever.