Nine

Today is a big day!

Today we have been married for NINE wonderful years.

Today at NINE o'clock we found out where we are moving for the next three years.

We are moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Shawn will be doing a Neonatology Fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. We are SOOO excited. Having previously lived in Wisconsin we already love the area and I was secretly hoping this is the place we would end up. It has great neighborhoods, school, and communities and I can't wait to wear coats and boots again :)

I am so excited and proud of Shawn for all his hardwork. So, today is a big day. Nine years of wonderful, challenginig, rewarding, and hardworking years that have been so worth every second. And now we know where our little family will be calling home for the next three years.

Utah Trip

It was time for another Utah trip. We had lots of fun and already miss all our family and friends. Here are a few pictures...

We visited the zoo

We went up Mueller Park Canyon for a little outdoor fun

We spent some time in Park City playing on the Alpine Slides and the bungy jumper for the kids.

and we also went to Black Island Farms for some fall fun.

I don't think Shawn and Liv liked this slide. You can't really tell from the picture, but it is pretty steep.

The kids loved the pig races. Cole's pig won!!

First Tooth

Ethan finally lost his first tooth. It had been lose and hanging there for the past week, but he wouldn't let Shawn or I touch it. Despite all the bribing he would scream when I even got close. Somehow at the park this morning Shawn convinced Ethan to just let him wiggle it, but instead he yanked it out. Ethan didn't even know it was gone until Shawn showed it to him. Ethan is so excited and can't wait for the tooth fairy to come tonight!

Cole's School

Cole started preschool this morning. He has been anxiously waiting ever since Ethan's school started a few weeks ago.

Liv didn't want to feel left out of the pictures.

We had a pretty relaxed labor day weekend with lots of this.....

more mountain time

We spent some time again this past weekend up in the Mountains. It is so amazing that as you drive up to Mt Charleston you can watch the temperature drop from 110 to 80. It felt so nice and cool up there. The kids had a lot of fun running around and getting dirty.

I also got to do a fun family photo shoot while we were up there. Aren't they a great looking family?

First Day of First Grade

Today was an exciting day, the first day of First grade for Ethan. He kept telling me that he wasn't nervous, but as we pulled up to the school he admitted that his tummy felt a little funny. Ethan is going to a brand new school and it is really nice. I really wasn't even that sad to see him go, just excited for him.

This is what Liv and Cole did while Ethan waited to go into his class. We don't want to forget them....

I wanted to make last night a special night for Ethan and I found a really great idea on another blog about having a back to school celebration dinner for the kids starting school. So I made Ethan's favorite dinner (Thai Peanut Noodles), and he got to wear a homemade crown all during dinner followed by a special cake made by Shawn (Shawn always makes the cakes in our family and I decorate them). After dinner we had a fashion show for Ethan to show off his new school clothes. Shawn tried to tell me boys don't do fashion shows, but Ethan seemed to love every minute of the attention. After our fashion show Shawn gave Ethan a blessing and it was such a neat experience. I am so lucky to be married to a worthy priesthood holder who can bless our kids.

It's only been about two hours since Ethan's been gone and I already miss him. I don't know if I can wait until three o'clock to go get him!!

Summer's Over

School starts Monday. This was officially our last weekend of summer craziness, late bedtimes, bike riding after dark, 10:00 ice cream and treat runs, and total disregard for any schedule. Starting monday we get to back to our routine of school, homework, dinner, bedtime, over and over again. We met Ethan's teacher on Friday and she seems great. Ethan is excited and ready! I just hope I am ready for him to be gone all day. I am going to miss him. Stay posted for pictures of Ethan's first day of First Grade!!

My Boys

I love my boys, but they really can drive me nuts. I am just not sure if they are both going to survive until they are 18. Most of the time they are fighting, screaming, crying, yelling, and punching with a few choice words (poo head, stinky face, etc.), but every once in a while we get a moment like this.

Which makes me realize they are soooooo worth it :)

green grass and trees

Who would have thought you could actually find green grass and trees in Las Vegas?? Honestly, these pictures were taken just an hour outside of this crazy desert.

Bouncing off the walls

That is what we have been doing lately. With the temperature holding steady around 110 degrees I have little desire to go outside. The kids beg, and I try it for about five minutes before we are all melted and run back inside. The kids have been going crazy so I took them to the only place that they can run and scream without driving me nuts that is AIR CONDITIONED.