March 12, 2005

March 12th, 2005 Steve asked me to marry him!!!! The pictures above were taken after our date when we went to tell my parents we were engaged. We had a date planned that night. I had lots of homework to finish and also wanted to clean my room, bathroom, etc. I told Steve to give me the day to get all my work done and I could go out at night. He secretively called my dad earlier in the afternoon and they met. Steve asked my father for his blessing and told him he was going to ask me to marry him. I thought my dad was at the church getting his clerk work done, but he wasn't I found out later. They both had me fooled :-)

Steve came to pick me up and we went out to dinner. He then took me up Casper Mountain. It started to snow really bad that day... another one of those wonderful went spring snow storms. He had to somewhat adjust his plans at the last minute to make it work... I found that out later. We drove up to the falls in the deep snow. Good thing his car could make it... the Maxima was tough… the tires were spinning in spots though.

When we got there I said "What are we doing? Is this a good idea?" He parked and had gathered all my snow gear somehow earlier in the day. He had everything from my coat, to hat, gloves, and snow boots. He was prepared. It was pretty cold and still snowing, but very beautiful in the mountain snow. We hiked up to the falls in the deep snow together. We were the only ones there :-) and enjoyed the nice hike together. We talked for a while and later headed back to the car. When we were close to the car he pulled out the ring, said some amazing words... I wish I could have written the whole speech down... and asked me to marry him. Of course I said YES!!!! He then pulled out beautiful flowers from the trunk of his car and gave them to me.

Even though the weather didn't cooperate with his original plan, he had decided today was the day and he wasn't waiting any longer. I still remember the look in his eye and I will never forget it.

I love you Steve!!!!

Spring Break 2009

Spring Break was this week... I went and visited my sister Toni and her family in Worland and had a great time. I love you guys!! I also went to Greybull and stayed with my parents. It is always nice to go home to visit my parents and I am always greateful for the wonderful food. I love my mom's cooking!!! I got to see Lindsey and the girls too...

This is how Cloe and Dakota like to watch cartoons.. front and center...TOO cute!!

This is our new niece Paige Brooklyn Casey ... she is so adoreable!!!

This is soooooo funny... It is Cloe's "super bark" :-)

I also got to go hang out with Erica and Ren for the afternoon until the boys got home from school/ track practice. They got out rockband...Ren and Wes are ROCKSTARS!!!!!

Thursday I headed to the beloved Rock Springs to hang out with Stevo. Of course,we went to eat at the Wonderful House. Steve LOVES his job and starts his shift work Saturday... he is done with his two weeks of initial training and although he still has more training, studying, and tests, he is considered one of the crew:-)!!

Firefighter Casey :-)

Not every little boy who says they are going to be a fireman when they grow up gets to be one (Aunt Melea).


This comes with being married to a firefighter... he has to have a set of bunker gear at home and one at work.

Steve has been doing all sorts of training. He has to put his gear on in under 1 minute and his captain will randomly say "go" and he has to stop what he is doing and go put his gear on that is laid out by the fire truck. He practiced using the jaws of life on an old car they brought in for him. He has to work out for an hour every shift and has been retraining on force able entry, ventilation, and fire behavior. He also was training on the ladder truck. I wish I could of had a picture of him on the ladder at the top when it was all the way stretched out. Those fire truck ladders stretch 75 ft. in the air :-) Glad that is him!! Steve has to do a lot of studying on his time off and at night and takes one of his big tests Thursday... Good Luck Steve!!!!!

They make me feel special...

I was working after school today when three of my 8th grade girls came in with a surprise!! How sweet!! They each picked out a flower just for me "just because". They know Steve left and don't want me to be sad they said and that they just wanted to make me smile. Well... they sure got a BIG smile. I love my kids!!!

They also had a small blown up green dinosaur baloon that you can add to the vase with flowers also, but it is at school because it didn't need water. We made up a name for him and they wanted him to be the class mascot. It is funny because each one of my classes has their own class mascot. Throughout the year they find things or bring little things to class and it has become their class mascot. Too funny! I should take a picture of all the mascots lined up together sometime:)

And Steve is off...

Steve left for Rock Springs today. Good luck baby... you will do great!! Love you!!

Friday was Steve's last day of work here... Monday he's a firefighter...He'll be back in a week. I love my Firefighter!!! I'll hold the fort down here until you return :) Luckily we only have to do this until June :)

The Fantastic 5...

On Saturday, we went to Worland to see a play. All 5 of my sister Toni's kids were in the play together. They had been practicing for a year now. It was a play/musical. Nicole and Chance both had a solo. They all did GREAT!! It was such a funny play!! I laughed so hard the whole time. Small town productions are a hoot!!!! Nicole was a teacher in the play, Chance was a low- pants- rider -gangster- thug, and the other three were students. There were about 25-30 kids in the play with ages ranging from 5th grade 11th grade or so. You guys were awesome!!

All the kids in their costumes... Nicole is my oldest niece and grandkid on my side of the family. She is a beautiful 17 year old... I can't believe she is that old!!!! She is getting ready to go to Prom. I will be going back to visit so I can see her in their grand march!! Can't wait!

Chance showing off his totally awesome belt buckle :) He had a huge bling-bling watch and chain around his neck on in the play too, but it didn't end up in the picture :( Too funny Chance!!

Big News...

Steve was offered a job with the Rock Springs Fire Department and we decided to accept. It was after a lot of time and thought, but we are both excited. Steve applied about a year ago and they had someone retire and Steve was at the top of their hiring list. The phone call was out of the blue and our life has seemed to take a 180 degree turn~~He was really hesitant to accept the job because he knows how much I LOVE Lander and my job, but there is another road we need to take now... I guess our work here is done :) I am applying for jobs there and very hopeful they will want me to teach in their school district... Just sent the application there yesterday!!!

Steve will be moving and starting to work at the Fire Department by March 30th... I will be finishing my school year here in Lander and moving when I am done. We will be living apart for a time... and paying two rents:( :( :( ... I will see how that goes, but the opportunity is exciting. I love that Steve is going to be able to do his passion every day at work.

When we moved here I thought it was a permanent location for a while, but it sure has changed...off to Rock Springs, WY... where the wind blows: P... By our 4th wedding anniversary we will have lived in 5 towns in Wyoming within those 4 years...

I will miss my kids and our wonderful friends... and of course the pretty little town and fun stuff to do outdoors that is soooo close. When I leave a piece of my heart will stay, but I guess that is good because I tried to make a difference in these kids lives. There was a reason we were here!!!