The Livingstons: Helloooo California!

***There are pictures at the bottom for those who don't feel like reading this novel of a post, which is probably all of you :) Someday I'll learn how to keep my writing short and sweet

Last December Carter landed the most amazing internship for this summer. He found a structural engineering firm owned by one of our favorite family's brother. Not only is he getting to do some really awesome stuff that he LOVES, but this internship is a mere 20 miles away from my parents house in Auburn. So, while Carter was preparing for and taking his finals I packed up the apartment and as soon as he finished his last test we headed out, (by the way he took all his finals on the first day of finals week and then drove to California through the night! What a rock star!!).

We were SO excited to get back in Auburn! As much as we love Utah, California will always be "home". We've since settled into a busy routine and are loving all this time with family. Both of our families are such great examples to us and fun to be around. I'm loving all my baby sitters. There's always a line of people wanting to snuggle little Jayden and so sometimes I have to pull out the momma card and tell everyone that I need a some time with him. I'm so grateful for their help though.

Jayden is growing so fast. Too fast actually! He's got a sweet, mellow little personality. I can tell that he loves being around people. While some babies get over stimulated by big crowds, Jayden seems energized by all the people around him. When there is a lot to look at and learn he is mellow, but when its just me and him and things get too quiet he starts squealing for my attention. He doesn't like to be left alone for too long! Lately he's been cracking me up with his eating. He is a bottomless pit I tell you! I've had to supplement with formula because I'm just not able to produce as much as he wants. He loves all the food we give him and never gets tired of eating, we just get bored feeding him. And yet he's still super tiny for his age. He's definitely like his momma in how much he likes food! I love that sweety so much and thank the Lord every day for my opportunity to be his momma. I couldn't have asked for a greater blessing.

Carter is just a hotty. With all our baby sitters we've been able to get away for a few hours for some dates and it's been so fun. He spends his work days drawing up plans on Revit for the firm he interns for and is learning SO much. This job was SUCH a blessing and will really help his future career. He has one more semester of his undergrad and then another year for his masters and then he'll be ready to get a grown up, real live career job. We'd really love for him to end up at this company he's interning for, but we'll have to see what happens.

I'm busy busy busy! I'm taking classes online and absolutely LOVING it. My goal is to become a morning person and get my school work done before noon each day, but so far that hasn't quite panned out. Usually I feel like I'm scrambling at my wits end to meet deadlines and care for Jayden, but it's totally worth it. The opportunity to finish my degree is such a blessing and I'm just so grateful. Modern technology is great!! I'm also the official substitute teacher for two different gyms and thus have the chance to teach a variety of different classes. My favorite classes to teach is RIPPED, but I'm glad to get the experience with all fields. Then I'm also working a little for my dad's company, just doing odd jobs to make extra moola. All of this keeps me on my toes, and sometimes I let the ball drop. But I figure as long as I'm being a good wife and momma the rest will work out.

All of this time in California makes me so grateful for our families. On Saturday we took our younger siblings and Jayden on a picnic and to the zoo and man, those kids are so great! They were all so kind and good and just fun to be around. Of course kids aren't always like that, in fact I'm sure they were on their best behavior for us, but I was so full of gratitude for the time I got to spend with them. Family really is everything and I sure love mine!