Nate is gearing up for his last Cross-Country season at SUU. A bittersweet moment for sure!
Nate really got into fishing this past year. This is probably his biggest catch yet. We fished at a lake near New Castle, Utah. We just bought Nate a fishing licence this summer.
This is Yankee Meadows Lake near Cedar City. Another fishing location.
I am 21 weeks pregnant with Aspen here!
I got into crochet and made a few baby items for Aspen and for friends.
This beanie was for cousin Neilson Fox!
Fall had arrived and we went up cedar canyon to check out the colors.
A 3D view of our sweet baby Aspen!
This day will probably be one of Nate's favorite days in his life. The SUU team competed at the Roy Griak Invitational. It is a very competitive meet and Nate and his team took first!! I was so happy on the phone to hear he had done so well. He was so excited.
My belly at 27 weeks! We passed the mark where we lost baby Leslie. I had some nerves at this time but everything was looking good and Aspen was healthy. Nate wanted a belly photo too. We were sending pictures to Noah on this day.
Halloween! Nate and I work it out where I draw the design and gut the pumpkin and Nate carves. I usually cook the pumpkin seeds while he is carving. We created the boogie man this year.
The West family drove down to St. George over the weekend for Brandon's Mt. Bike race and I tagged along while Nate was a a XC meet. It was fun to all be together.
Nate goofing off with his teammates at their Conference Championship.
Nate and our good friends the Hawkes with their awards! Nate did well and took 4th.
31 weeks! I felt so grateful to have made it this far with Aspen. I was starting to really anticipate meeting Her!
This picture was included because it shows how my hard-working husband makes it through the days. He can sneak in a nap anytime, anywhere. He is currently in the Bishopbric as the 1st counselor of our young married ward. He had a 6am meeting after getting back from a cross country trip at 2 am that same morning. A good and faithful servant.
Baby shower time! Things get real when the showers start coming! I had two wonderful showers by both moms! It was a great turnout:) We have a lot of family support.
Cross-Country Regionals! A very exciting race (wish I was there)! Nate took third, his best placing at Regionals yet, and the team qualified for Nationals! Only the second time in SUU history. Nate was pumped to get to go to Nationals with the entire team this year.
The team consisted of Nate, Hayden Hawkes, Mike Tate, Ibrahim Ahmed, Clinton Rhoton, Dylan Marx, Skylar Riggs, and Ishtivon.
Nate led for a little bit to help pick up the pace and have a honest race.
On to Nationals! Highlights of both of our lives. John invited me and Isaac to fly over with him to watch Nate run at his last XC Nationals! I paid my own ticket but he paid for hotel and food. It was worth every penny. I believe I was around 33 weeks pregnant. The race took place at Tara Houte, Indiana.
Our good friends from Claire and Devan Antzack who we new at SUU were there too. The were going to school in Iowa.
Another great moment in both of our lives. All season long I was dying not being able to be at Nate's races. He was doing so well. I missed traveling on the team with him and being able to be there right at the finish line to give him a big hug and congratulate him in person, not over the phone. And Nate has been dying to get that top 20 All-American tittle for a few years now.
We both got what we longed for today. I still have the vision in my mind of standing at the finishers tent. I had just watched my husband battle a tough race and finish so strong accomplishing a 15th All-American place. So many muddy men were stumbling around under the tent getting their shoes and coats. Isaac quickly was by my side and then John. We searched in anticipation until finally we saw him! I will cherish the look on his face for forever. He was so happy. I got to congratulate him in person! We hugged and then John took this great picture.
The team took 22nd
Nate with his All-American medal and top 15 finishers trophy.
The team
From left; Paul Limph (asst. coach) Ishti, Skyler Riggs, Mike Tate, Nate, Dylan Marks, Ibrahim Ahmed, Hayden Hawkes, Brandy peterson(camera girl and my former teammate) and Clinton Rhoton.
They are at a Dinner in this picture and later watched a Disney movie called McFarland before it came out.
Here is the whole team including Thom (far left) the trainer and Coach Houle (far right)
Look at that smile!
The battle.
There were so many people in this race. See if you can spot Nate!
The final kick, coming down the strait-a-way! John, Isaac, and I were lined up along that banner somewhere cheering our guts out!! Go Nate!
Thanksgiving is here! I failed to get picture on the day, but here we are doing the great Jewkes tradition of gingerbread house decorating. This was the first year that baked and built our house!
The final product! I was around 34 weeks preg!
I made us some ginger bread men too!
My 23rd Birthday! Nate made me this excellent cake and then we went down to the Tuican in St. George to see the lights and watch the Nativity.
Aspen's Nursery! We got everything set up in our bedroom. Since we are in a one bedroom apt her crib and dresser are in our room. The crib is actually in the closet. Our bedroom was actually pretty big so it wasn't too bad.
36 weeks!
Bowling with Taylor and his girlfriend Karlie. 37 weeks.
Christmas at the Wests! Taylor made us a height board!
We came back to Cedar City a couple of weeks before school started to have some time to ourselves before the baby came. Nate worked on Grad school applications for a while and we watched the football bowl games. We needed to get outside for a bit and decided that we wanted to go sledding on the hill by our house. We didn't have a sled so we used a cardboard box. It worked great. This was our last adventure before Aspen came because I was too tired to stay up for New Years.
