In Loving Memory of my Grandpa

Grandpa Ralph Kauer and me the adorable baby!!
Last Thursday I got a call from my mother telling me that my Grandpa had passed away. My grandpa is 92 almost 93 years old and has been rather ill the last six months and especially the last two weeks, thus in some aspects I have been expecting this phone call; however it was still a shock. You see my grandfather has always been in my life and in some aspects I can't imagine my life without him here. It was so weird to go see my Grandma and not have him in the room. I have a knowledge that he is in a better place and that same day I will see him again, but right now it seems unreal that he is gone. Whenever I think of war heroes or patriots I think of my Grandfather. He served in World War II and he was very proud of America. I have always been grateful for the price he paid for the freedoms I enjoy and I am grateful for all the men and women like my grandfather who paid the price for this country. On a monument in DC it says Freedom is Not Free and this always makes me think of my Grandfather. A few other memories I have of my grandfather are his voice when he prayed and read the scriptures. I loved to hear my grandfather pray, it is hard to explain but when he prayed I knew God was listening and I knew that he knew it. I also loved to hear him read the scriptures, again because his voice made it come to life for me. I have many fond memories of my grandfather: camping, eating fried eggs cooked in bacon grease, fishing, having water fights, having family parties, celebrating holidays, sledding in the pasture, and how fun it was to be around him. I remember once when I went up to his house and he had gotten this comedian video in the mail. He put it on and was laughing so hard at the man on the movie. I laughed so hard because he thought it was so funny actually I thought my grandfather was funnier than the comedian. I also remember the stories my Grandfather told about his growing up days, his farm, his mission to Germany, and about when his children were growing up. You know today while listening to General Conference President Monson said that we need to tell people thank you and that we care about them before it is too late. Last weekend before I went back to Twin I told him good-bye and that I loved him, but I didn't think it was good-bye. So, I guess I am writing this little post about him because I am so grateful for the heritage that he left me , for everything his life was about and stood for, and for being my grandfather. Thank you Grandpa. I love you and I will miss you very much, but I know you are in a better place and that after over 75 years you get to see your parents again- I am so happy for you. I love you and we will take care of Grandma! As my Grandfather always said: Remember Families are Forever!!

Welcome to the World

Well, I have another niece (that makes 13 nieces and 5 nephews- man that stinks for them) here she is Savannah Quayle Englis, born Sept. 26th @ 8:46 PM. She is beautiful and doing well. Yes unfortunately she is still on oxygen, but every day she is growing stronger and I can all ready tell she is going to be a spit-fire in all the best ways. I love being the favorite aunt, I mean Aunt!!

Update on my Life

So I am a slacker it is official!! I haven't blogged for over three months and lots has happened in those months. I now have two new in-laws, a new niece, a new apartment, new job, and a new home. So yes life has changed a great deal and still changing as we speak.

Here is my entire family (well two are still in the womb) at Kimi's reception! Man we are pretty good looking if I do so say so myself!! Here are a few other pics from over the last few months.

Kev and Keri Lyn coming out of the Salt Lake Temple.

Kimi in her wedding dress, love the shoes! Kimi and Dan coming out of the Idaho Falls Temple.

The proud older sisters, Aly and KaLisi, with their new little sister Kinley Bernice Griggs born August 27th.

So as you can see it has been an adventure over the last few months. I have enjoyed hanging out with the family. At the beginning of August my friends threw me a going away a party for me and Taletha. It was lots of fun and thanks for warm fuzzies everyone gave me. Also I moved three weeks ago and now I call Twin Falls home, well it is where I sleep almost every night so I guess it is home. I am learning my way around Twin and getting the hang of my new job- slowly but surely!! Today was my first Saturday here so I checked out a few little shops in downtown and found some fun stuff; of course I had to buy a few things, but never fear I didn't spend to much. Any way I will keep you all updated on my new adventures here in the great city of Twin Falls.

Princess Tea Party

So for my birthday this year I decided to throw myself a party, I figure hey I am single and I can do whatever I want. So I sent out invitations to all of my nieces, sisters, sisters-in-laws, mother and grandmother and invited them all to my Princess Tea Party. I decided that we would do all of my favorite things: dress up in pretty dresses, get pedicures and manicures, eat yummy food, and play fun things. So on my Birthday we did just that. I gave the little nieces pedicures and manicures, we did their hair, we put make-up on them, and we all wore tiaras. We ate all of our favorite finger foods and ate lots of strawberries!!! It was heaven. We also kicked all of the men out but later they came back and we had a great day. Here are some fun pics from the party. Thanks everyone for a great time.

City Girl

So last night I was up at my sister's house hanging out with her and the fam, and it was time to do "chores." For those of you that don't know my sister lives on a farm up in Teton, Idaho and they have horses, ponies, cows, goats, rabbits, dogs, chickens, etc. you know all that farm stuff. Well I have helped before and every time that I do I realize what a city girl I am. For example a few months ago I was there and they were bottle feeding some calves, Sparkle and something that starts with a T, any way I was trying to help and hold the bottle and my 6-year niece starting opening the pen they were in and I was like...No don't they will get me... close it... (for those of you that don't know I am not an animal person to start with) so ever since then my niece giggles at me whenever I am there to help do chores. Don't worry Aunt Jenn I will protect you from the animals. So last night I thought I would redeem myself... so I help feed the rabbits, gave them water, watched as my brother-in-law bucked hay to feed the horses, etc. Well, my sister was mocking me saying I couldn't do it so of course I grabbed the pitch fork, got some hay and fed the horses, much to my sister's delight. I was so proud. So I spent the night and today Zach let the kids ride the horses, they have certain kinds that have names, but I don't know all I know there was a mini and a little pony. So Melly, Becca, KaLisi, and Aly rode the horses and it was so cute to watch. They were all so excited. However, I have to say the funniest part was later when I was helping them do chores again, I watered the rabbits all by myself and helped feed, so proud. Any way a goat got loose because the gate got left open and they yelled for me to close it and I stepped in something gross and smelly. Then the little black pony got loose too and it was quite hilarious to watch Zach and his friend try to catch it. We were laughing so hard... fun times. It was so much fun to be up there away from everything (my cell doesn't' get good reception, so I felt disconnected to my world)for a few hours. I bucked hay, fed the animals, attempted to gather eggs (not successfully because those chickens are scary... especially the black and white ones)and watched a roping session. I do have to admit that flip flops are not the best shoes to wear on the farm. Any way thanks to Chele, Zach, KaLisi, and Aly for a great night on the farm. Now back to my city life...

Pedicure Fun

Well, today my friends and I went to the spa in Rexburg and got a pedicure. It was my first time getting a professional one and it was fun. We soaked our feet, chatted with each other, got a foot massage, and a "free" pair of flip flops. It was fun to get pampered for a little bit especially after a long week. I posted a picture of my toes although toes are kinda of ugly things, but I have to show it off because it is soo cute. So here you have it. It is kinda of hard to see but I have sticker on each of my big toes: a flower with a diamond in the middle. I love being a girl sometimes it is fabtabulous!!! Have a great Sunday, now the big question what shoes to wear to show it off... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Brain Scrample Beware

Okay it is 11:00 at night and I am exhausted, yet I can't sleep because I am frustrated so I decided to blog. So I have this friend that I have known forever and I just don't get it, sometimes I feel like we are friends and other times I feel like he doesn't want to even acknowledge that he knows me. Why does he do that? Some may think that I am just being silly and they might be right but at the same time what has happened to people being nice and having the decency to just be honest. He once asked my opinion about something and I gave him an answer that was appropriate for the setting and then later I sent him a message with my true feelings... he asked.... I answered and since then no response from him.... NOTHING!!! What did I do, did I say something wrong? Why do guys do that? My major pet peeve is when someone sends you a message/text and asks a question or something of that nature and there is no response ever. I think that is so rude and inconsiderate. Just say I don't want to talk to you right now, thanks but no thanks. Instead of silence... because let's face it silence means soooooo many things and most of them are not nice things. I would rather get a no thanks then silence. Okay I know that this makes no sense but that is what is great about a blog you don't have to make sense.
And then after no response I get something from his family member asking me a favor for him and I can't say no, so I say sure I will try, but really all I want to do is go yell at him for the SILENCE!!!! Some of you might be interrupting this as oh poor Jenn, she has a crush and she can't read the signs that he doesn't like her.... the thing is that is not what it is about. I don't have a crush on him.... at least not that I know of, I thought at one time that he was wonderful because he treated me well and he made me feel like a friend, but now...I want to beat him. I know violence is not the answer but it would make me feel better. I also wonder if I care because let's face it I don't have a lot of male options even as friends right now and that is hard. I like having a guy around that gives you male opinions because sometimes girls well are girls and it is nice to have guys around, but alas that is not the case in my life. Not that I am really complaining because I have a great family and great friends. I just am missing something and maybe I am taking it out on him, but I still think it is rude!!! Any way I hope no one really pays much attention to this blog I just needed to write something. If you have an answer or a thought I am up for that too. Good night.... sweet dreams....