Just Not the Same

Labor Day Weekend is ALWAYS set aside for the infamous Day Family Reunion. It is the highlight of Tim's year (maybe even over Christmas!!) So we headed up the Canyon once again for the fun festivities and Camping.
This year was a little different though. The older generation that usually runs it
decided they were too old and tired to do it, so a younger generation decided they would take over. They did an excellent job but did not get the support from everyone. There was a lot of complaining about someone forgetting the BINGO, there were no group meals this year and so forth. Also there was not a very good turnout maybe because of these things. Emery had a little bit of a hard time too because she did not fit in very well with the other kids, maybe it is because they didn't know her very well or were just used to playing with each other, without her being there. (Thanks for being sweet to her Hannah).
BUT...
we made the best of it,
Emery had fun trying to escape into the wilderness by herself, and playing with Brady and Grandma Paula. Tim set up an awesome Tent to share with Brady. They put a tarp over a tent with blow up rafts on the side. They said it was the best they have ever slept camping. He also went boating/fishing with Brady, and played all day in the volleyball tournament. Kaven was VERY good even with his lack of sleep. He enjoyed tasting a pine cone and watching all the action. I had a great time visiting with everyone and was so appreciative of all of Paulas help with my kids. I really enjoyed her company this year.
Tim and I talked about it and decided that it was not the lack of people, the forgotten BINGO, the lack of group meals that made it not as great but it was
********JUST NOT THE SAME********
without Brett, Jennie, Sadie and Trace!!!! We missed you guys SO much. We missed Bretts strong fun presence and his funny comments. We missed Jennies laugh and fun conversations. We missed Sadie and Emery running around chasing each other giggling and squealing like little girls and following each other everywhere they go. And we missed looking at and talking to cute Trace. We know you are where you are suppose to be and are doing great at it but it doesn't mean we don't miss you when you are not here. Keep up the good work guys, we look forward to the next time we get to see you.
(I took this picture from Jennie's blog)

What makes a House a Home?

Well a few people have been asking me to see our new home we are living in so I thought I would share a little bit especially sense I have been working on it some. But for journal purposes I thought I would write about what it is like here.
We live in student housing and LOVE it. I never thought I would say that or EVER live in student housing but it is so great. Here are some reasons why I love it...
1.The people here are all so friendly and have very young families like us and at least one of the spouses has to be going to school. So we are all in or similar situations. I can go out my front door at almost any time and have a friend out there for Emery and I. If not someone will usually come out soon.
2. There is a playground and picnic/BBQ area right out our front door that is surrounded by three buildings (our houses) and a circular cement walkway for kids to ride bikes ect. So it is safe, no cars and Emery LOVES it.
3. There are so many activities that I can participate in. Mom's club, court activities, Village activities, and of course all the church activities on top of it. Not to mention all the great deals they give us to go to places like Raging Waters, Lagoon ect.
4. All utilities(high speed Internet, cable, phone, power, water ect.) are included in the Rent, which is VERY good by the way because they just charge us cost and are not making anything off us.
5. We can have a garden for $6.00 (total) if we want and do not have to pay for water (utilities included). We moved in a little too late for that this year but next year I am so on it.
6. We are close to campus so Tim doesn't have to waste all his time traveling to and from school cause he is gone and busy enough as it is.
7. There is classified adds for this place so it is like a yard sale ever two weeks for me rain or shine. Boy, have we ever taken advantage of that, with getting rid of so much stuff with the moves!!! As you may know I LOVE yard sales.

8. It is pretty safe with the security and it is fenced in. All the cars park on the outsides with the homes, walkways, HUGE grass field to play soccor or whatever on the inside. There is even a GIANT hill to slip'n'slide or sled down. It is nice not having to worry so much about Emery running into the street all the time.
9. It has community centers you can rent/use for free (great for family get togethers or baby blessings) Plus it is a FREE pre-school during the weekdays if I want to put Emery in when she's older.
10. The home itself is VERY old but has lots of personality with it's cinder block walls, asphalt and gym carpet type flooring and HUGE windows that go all along the front and back of our home. Sense we are renting we can not do anything permanent to it but they do not mind if you get creative with it and they even let us paint. It makes me so excited because I have a HUGE creative bug in me and I tell Tim it is like my blank canvas. Here's some pictures of my current project on the Kitchen (I have more plans yet like a blue wall, dishwasher and more cupboards with counter tops).
Now as many of you may know, living here has been a down grade for us, moving from a very nice three bed, two bath, two car garage, fenced in yard place to a three bedroom 1 bath very old place. BUT we do NOT feel any different living here! We are just as happy if not more in some ways and LOVE our life. Why you may ask? Well it is because it is not the granite counter tops (or counter tops in the bathroom at all for that matter), or the custom molding, the extra garage but living with the people you love in clean, safe, Christ centered environment. Yes someday we will probably have some of those things in our future home because they are nice and make things more comfortable but it does not change our attitude or the way we view life now. Plus it gives us something to dream and work for. Our future is bright and big, yet our present is just as bright for we have so much to love and be grateful for.

Stay posted: More pictures and projects of our home to come (just give me some time).

Pills and Bills...

...the story of our life these next few years. :) So I am pleased to introduce the new P1 student(1st year pharmacy student) of our family.
Tim received his white coat last weekend. This is the beginning of another great adventure in our life. It is now seeming a little bit more real after the ceremony.
This is his signature at the bottom of the oath he made. The person handing him the pen to sign said that he need to work on his signiture because it was too neat. Ha Ha.
As you can tell we are very excited for this new adventure.
Tim's parents and brother came and we enjoyed their company. It is always fun when family and friends come to see us.
Good luck sweet heart! I am so proud of you! We have worked so hard to make it where we are and I am tickled to see the results of our labors and BLESSINGS, for I know we would not be here if it were not for the help of others and especially our Heavenly Father. Now we just need to stick it through and enjoy the ride. Pills and Bills here we come!!!!

Stop, Sit Up, and Roll

STOP
and check out my cute little boy! He is learning so many fun new things, like how to...
SIT UP
August 11th, 2009 (3 months old)
I guess he is truly a boy because I set him up in front of a big car and he was all for pushing it back and forth while he was practicing the art of sitting up. He sat there for like 3-5 minutes with out me even helping him.
He is also learning how to...
ROLL

August 22nd, 2009 (4 months old)
This was kind of unexpected because I had not put him on his tummy for a few days, just not thinking. So when I put him on his tummy this day I was so surprised to see him instantly roll over. Guess he was just waiting for the day patiently while I put off putting him on his tummy.

I am SO GLAD we are still living in Utah...

because we get to do little things like....
Take 4 generation photos at family functions,

laugh with and hug Grandma Paula,

and Sit under umbrellas with Dad during beautiful Utah Summer days.

Last weekend Tim's parents called us and said there was a family get together with Tim's grandmas family in Provo the following day. It was so easy for us to just load up the next day and go. The whole way there we were talking about how nice it is that we are able to do these kinds of things so easily still. We thought there was a good chance we could of ended up in Virgina for Pharmacy School or any where else in the country for that matter. We just can't get over how blessed we feel to have been accepted to the University of Utah's Pharmacy School and be so close to family and friends. Just felt like counting my many blessings Great and small. :)

Great Friends!

Last week we had some of our great friends from Cedar City come and stay with us. We LOVE having company and we had an awesome time with them. We visited, played Settlers, ate lots of yummy food, stayed up way to late playing games and laughing, and it was all worth it. It has only taken us a few days to recover from all the junk we ate. :) Hopefully they will come again soon.

Zoo, Zoo, Zoo

A few weeks ago we were able to go to the Hogle Zoo with our friends. We had so much fun. I think Emery was mostly entranced by everything rather than jump up and down excited. Who wouldn't be entranced by so many cool creatures.
First Stop: The Elephants
*tid bit* Did you know that elephants are scared of mice? Well they are. They did an experiment on Mythbusters and the Elephants did everything to avoid the mice. Crazy!!!

This giant Elephant was SO COOL. It made deep elephant type music noises and vibrated. Emery and Hannah ran right up to it and even went for a pretend ride on its trunk but all of the sudden it blew air out of its nose and Emery ran for her life. One of the real elephants though, was going to have a baby any day, so maybe we will get to see it on a future trip.
Second Stop: Big Cats
*tid bit* Tim got his picture taken in a lion's mouth when he was little, just like Emery this trip. SCARY, yet refreshing! :

Shannon (Our friend, that goes often) said that the cats were really cool on this trip because they were ALL up and walking around. The tiger, leopard ect. One of them even came right up to the glass next to the kids. Pretty cool. Glad there was glass between us!
Next Stop: Giraffes
*tid bit* Giraffes only have 7 vertebrae in their necks, the same number as humans!!! Who'd a thought? Each one of their vertebrae must be really long, or ours are really short. ;)
This was probably my favorite stop. One of the giraffes has just had a baby a few days before. It was DARLING too. One of the zoo workers was feeding them so their heads were right up next to us. Very awkward but cute animals.
Break Time: Bird Show
*tid bit* You can train a chicken but it is VERY difficult. (I am not sure if it is worth the work.)
This bird show was AWESOME! Different kinds of birds were flying through the audience and right over peoples heads, almost if not touching heads. Emery was getting a little tired and ornery by now if you can not tell.
Next Stop: Reptiles
*tid bit*There are 270 different kinds of turtles and they are still counting.

There were lots of cool reptiles and such. Maybe someday Kaven will really like things like frogs, lizards and turtles and this picture will be extra cool. I thought it turned out pretty cute.
Last Stop: Gorilla's and Monkey's
*tid bit* Zoo keepers will put the Gorilla's or monkey's food in ice and pipes to replicate how they get their food in the wild. I guess it keeps their minds going as well.
This gorilla was so cool. I personally thought the little "monkeys" in these pictures were so cute as well. All of them were eating, what a coincidence. :)
We had a great day at the zoo! We actually saw and experienced lot's more things and trust me when I say that I got pictures of it all. These were just a few of our favorites. Thanks so much Shannon for inviting us. We always have a great time with you guys no matter what it is.