Chriatmas in Utah

We had a very memorable holiday in Utah with our families. I think this Christmas was very special and meaningful for many reasons. A few days before we arrived in Utah we learned that one of my cousins who had be struggling with drug addictions was in the hospital in critical condition. After 2 weeks of roller coaster as to whether or not he would survive, it has turned out to be a miracle not without much fasting and prayer. He is doing amazingly well considering his condition when he went the hospital and will most likely be able to walk, and think, and experience life again. We all feel very strongly that he has been given a second chance at life, and it just wasn't yet his time to go. There is still a long road for him, but he is well on his way. I was so glad to be close with family to be a part of this beautiful experence and thankful for my prayers being answered.

My relatives and I did a musical concert at my Grandma's nursing home for Christmas. There is nothing she enjoys more than music, she is forgetting much with the dementia taking over, but I am happy to say she still remembers me and Kyle even, but not our kids. I know the day will come when she will forget me too, with us being quite close over the years that will be hard.

My parents took Kyle and I and Wes to a Christmas symphony performance of the Utah Symphony. It was fun to have an excuse to dress up and Wes loved being among all the instruments. He still says he wants to be a conductor when he grows up.

Kyle and I went on a short trip to Denver to interview at two residency programs there. We both like Denver a lot and thought that might be the place until he interviewed in Utah and everything seemed to fall into place. He was especially impressed with the University of Utah's program which surprised us both since it was at the bottom of the list originally. I guess we should have know because that is how things tend to turn out, you go where you least expect. I guess we'll see on match day. Wherever we go it will be exciting, I am so looking forward to my dreams of a dishwasher, garage and a little more space.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All! Party like it's 2009!

28 and Fabulous!

Happy Birthday to me! Had a wonderful day today. I got to stay in bed and read this morning all alone, had lunch with Patty and Keri and we went to dinner will all the family at the Olive Garden; tirimisu and all. My 27th year was a defining one for me. I had the highest of highs and lowest of lows and came out a different person in many ways, most of them better. I am so thankful for my husband and kids and all the things that make life so sweet. I am OK with getting older and hopefully wiser in the process. Love to all!

Chistmas in November

We had Christmas early this year for the kids. We are going to Utah to visit family for Christmas and since the presents were too large for suitcases, we decided to give them to the kids a week before we leave so they can have time to play before we go. Wes got an electric guitar just his size and he was thrilled. It has a built- in amplifier, but it also can be connected to Kyle's bass guitar amp so he was rockin' out today. Elijah got a great big Tonka Truck. It is a first for our house because Wes was never very interested in trucks and the like. Elijah loved it and has driven it around the house all morning. We enjoyed our traditional Christmas breakfast of hashbrown cassorole and cinnamon rolls. Merry Christmas season to all!

To make it a perfect almost Christmas, it began snowing on our way to church. Elijah was so amazed by the snow, he just walked up the sidewalk with his arms wide open to experience it. He laughed as it hit his face and gasped at the cold as the same time. Kids really make you think about the wonders and miracles of life.

After Church which doesn't end till' 4:00, we stayed after for a baptism. It was kind of crazy with the kids being so tired and hungry, but it is such a wonderful experience to see a baptism especially of an adult who is making a very conscience choice to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elijah was front and center chomping on his granola bar for the happening, and he didn't make a peep. Weston watched from Kyle's lap with interest. Overall it was a great day, we feel very blessed!

Howdy Pilgrim

Well we had a nice Thanksgiving celebration with our friends the Taylors and the Elders from our area. Unfortunately I was so busy making the food that I forgot to take pictures. It was what you would expect though, turkey, yams, potatoes, the works. I am so grateful for friends since we live so far away from family, they have become a surrogate family. I picked up the festive hats for the boys and they actually loved them despite the forlorn looks on their faces, I think they were just pooped by the time we got around to picture taking. We got a kick out of calling Elijah "turkey", and Wes "Pilgrim" for the day. We put of the Christmas decor today and the boys are excited. Elijah loved our Santa playing the saxophone decoration this year, it was one that Weston picked out two years ago. I love the traditions that come with this time of year!
I also added pictures of Weston talking on the phone because I thought it was so cute how he was sitting. He has been really into talking on the phone lately as the grandparents have noticed I'm sure because he keeps calling them. Elijah is upset because he wants to play with the camera.

Swimming on the first snow fall of the winter

It snowed yesterday and what did we do but decide to go swimming. The boys loved it and we were the only ones there. Elijah was determined to put his face in the water no matter what and so he fought tooth and nail when we tried to keep him from drowning himself.(we are mean parents, I know) In every picture he looks mad because someone is trying to hold him. The life guards were getting a kick out of him because he kept shoving his face in the water and come up sputtering and laughing. Weston was having a fun time floating on a huge foam island. Good times!
Also remember the permanent marker incident on our entertainment center, well I found a solution and now it doesn't look bad.

Let's hear it for the boys!

Another great weekend comes to a close. We are excited because Kyle only has one day of school this week and then he is off for the duration, well at least until the end of December. We are excited to have extra time with Daddy. On Friday night we went to Organ pipe pizza with our friends the Hansons. Carter and Weston are best buddies most of the time:) and enjoyed eating pizza and playing together. It is the crazies place the organ is connected to tons of props like puppets, xylophones, and quacking ducks and they all chime in during the performances. Elijah started to cry every time a song ended and we are still unsure if he was just sad that the music ended or if he was scared by the final cymbal crash.
On Sat. we went to the mall to hang out and let the boys run wild. The just complete an indoor play area at our mall with these big foamy things to climb on. The boys loved it. I think we will spend time there this winter for sure.
The rest of the pictures are the boys doing what they do. The picture of me in my new birthday dress was taken by Weston, hence the unflattering angle, but I do like it a lot, thanks mom and dad! We are down to less than two weeks till our Utah adventure, hold on family here we come!

Sweet November

Well I am back on the blog wagon. Here are some pictures of our boys doing everyday things. Elijah just loves to curl up on Weston's chair and read books. He even tucks himself in with a blanket, it is so cute and I am thrilled that he, like Weston, loves books. Wes is just a silly boy, he is always putting something on his head or pretending to be a puppy or whatever, he makes us laugh. I have been so grateful lately that my prayers have been answered and the boys have started sleeping in till' 7. I actually made a deal in my prayers that if I would get up at 6:45 and read scriptures that I would need the boys to sleep in so I could have that spiritual time for me gather myself together before the day. So far so good, I am benefiting greatly and notice a huge difference on the days that don't begin with scripture study. It really is the little things that make the biggest difference. Kyle has had one interview so far for residency at the hospital in Wakeesha WI. He was very impressed with the program and the people there. They offer a Masters in Public Health as part of the program which would add a year onto the residency which at this point I say what's one more year, add it to the pile. :) So at the most we have 4 more years until Kyle is completely done with all things resembling school. I am starting to see the light.:) The next 6 months will be an exciting and trying time for us for sure.

Sorry no new pictures

Well I have been neglecting the blog and not because we haven't been doing anything, just that we haven't been doing anything involving taking pictures. There has been plenty of action. Just yesterday for example I spent a great deal of time scrubbing permanent marker off our entertainment center with rubbing alcohol. The marker came off, but so did the paint, who knew:) Anyway it was one of those times I am grateful that we have little nice furniture and I was actually even grateful that Wes drew on the entertainment center and not the carpet because no amount of alcohol is getting permanent marker out of carpet. I am getting a little stir crazy with winter approaching and the kids even more so. When we are inside all day, it is impossible to keep the apartment clean and when I say clean I mean paths of clear floor to walk from room to room. We're looking forward with great anticipation to a larger space even if it is not the house we have dreamed of for so long.
There is a fair amount of unrest that is generated by the fact that our future is unsure. We could be living in one of three parts of the country next year at this time and that is unsettling. We are excited for changes and scared of them at the same time.
We are all looking forward to the holidays and spending time with family. Kyle will complete 8 interviews in the next month and we are praying that one of the hospitals will stand out to us as the place to go. Thank you friends and family for all your support, we love you!

matching ties

This was Elijah's first Sunday to wear a dress shirt and tie, he looks so grown up. Wes was so excited for Elijah to wear his old bow tie, he said "Elijah look at yourself, it's so exciting." Weston just got new dress shoes and he is thrilled because they look just like the shoes the Wiggles wear.