Playing catch-up, again.

Once again, I'm sitting here trying to catch up with the last three months. I wonder why I can't just post as I go! Anyway, we finally got through negotiations and bought a great house in Lehi, Utah. We really like the neighborhood and the location. The boys love playing in the yard, and I love the fence! It is so nice to finally let the boys play without worrying about bothering the neighbors (or family).

Jeff has been getting busier and busier at work, and it looks like that trend will continue for the next couple of months. I know he's stressed now, but maybe we'll find the silver lining somewhere along the line.

I have been doing a number of things to keep myself busy. I worked as a substitute teacher a couple times a week during the fall, did some work from home for the family business, but most of the time tried to keep the boys from tearing the house apart. I realized this fall that this is the first and probably last year that no one in our immediate family is going to (real) school. With that being said, I did take the H&R Block tax course and have been hired to work in one of their offices for this coming tax season. I know it sounds really nerdy, but I'm really looking forward to it. I've never denied having a nerdy side, my band experience in high school and my being a science teacher prove that.

Another big addition to our lives is Husker. We got a doberman puppy at the beginning of November for the boys and he has been a lot of fun. He is really sweet, but has been a pain in the neck to house train. I'm sure it would be going better if we had warmer weather, but we'll get this puppy whipped into shape sooner or later.

We had a great Christmas this year. The boys' excitement really made if fun for Jeff and me this year. Despite mine and Jeff's decision to have a "no-toy Christmas," the boys got spoiled rotten. We are so blessed to have family and friends that love us and spoil the kids (and the parents sometimes too). I'm sure this coming year will bring just as many adventures as years past, but it sure feels nice to not be waiting to be done with school or think about more moves or temporary jobs.

He Passed!

I have been terrible about staying up to date on our blog, but in case any of you didn't hear, Jeff passed the Utah Bar Exam! He's working for his dad's law firm in Sandy and we expect to be here forever. We are in the process of buying a house and making big plans for the future.

Random Elko

The boys and I have had a very busy summer. Here's a little bit of what we've been up to while in Elko:

At Elko's Silverstate Stampede.

Ice blocking at a friend's birthday party.

Jetskiing at Southfork.

After all the rain in June, a huge mud puddle formed on the road just above the house. The boys just couldn't help themselves....

4th of July

We were party poopers and didn't go anywhere to take the kids to one of the big firework displays, but had a good time spending the holiday with the Cannons at their house. Jeff studied for most of the day, so I made a festive cake (I even died the two layers red and blue). Bryan set off a few fireworks in the driveway and we were able to get the kids to bed at a decent time!

Busy weekend

I'm way behind, but starting on June 25th, the boys and I drove out after Ammon's swimming lessons to pick up Heidi and continued down to Manti for the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Even though it rained like crazy through most of it, we enjoyed it. We stayed at my Aunt Karen's house and drove back up to rejoin our husbands. I can't believe I forgot my camera this weekend, but oh well. On Saturday afternoon, Jeff had a flag football/bbq with his online utefans.net friends. I ended up playing and paid for it later. I hadn't pushed myself that hard in a long time (probably before I was pregnant with Ryan)! We got back to the house long enough to take showers, grab something to eat and left again for the Lehi Roundup. Jeff and I both LOVE rodeos and the boys seemed to like it as much as we did. We ended the weekend with going to church in the morning and then the boys and I drove back to Elko, leaving Jeff for another week alone to study.

Swimming Lessons

Considering Ammon has barely been in the water due to work schedules and cold weather, he has done AMAZING in his progress in his first session of swimming lessons. He will practice what his teachers show him while the other kids are just goofing around and is not scared at all to go under the water. Our only challenge is keeping him in the water when he gets cold. Poor Ryan can't understand why he can't get in the pool during Ammon's lessons. I leave him with Grandma and Grandpa if they are home, but if he comes along, it means 45 minutes of fighting to keep him away from the water and he often ends up getting in up to his knees.

Boys' first boat ride and more...

Despite the cool temperatures and pouring rain, we managed to have a good time at Southfork. This was the first time the boys had been on a boat. Ammon loved it, Ryan fell asleep.

This Is The Place

Heidi had a great idea to go to This Is The Place park on the free admission day, so the boys and I met Heidi, Courtney and kids up there and had a great time. Ammon got in big trouble while we were waiting for Heidi and Courtney to get there. Other people get a kick out of the story, but I'm still to mad/embarrassed to post it here. If you're really curious, ask me or Jeff some time and we will tell you about Ammon's "nasty little habit." We got out of there just in time. It started to POUR, the wind picked up and the thunder and lightning were pretty impressive just as we were pulling onto Foothill.

Ammon was so excited to have his picture take with his hero, Joseph Smith.

Ammon and Heidi checking out the teepee.

Oregon

Here are a few shots I took in Oregon in May. I usually take more pictures, but I was too busy playing and having a good time, I didn't pick up the camera as much as I have on previous visits.

Update

To everyone that has checked our blog sometime in the last three months and wondered if I was ever going to post again, I have finally gotten around to it. A brief overview of what we've been up to:

• Jeff graduated from Law School
• We moved from Lincoln to... well, we're homeless. We're staying with family until Jeff starts getting paid the big bucks.
• Jeff is studying for the bar exam (the big dates are July 28th and 29th)
• Marianne is searching for our first home
• The boys are having a blast having so much room to play
  
• The boys and I visited family and friends in Oregon

I'll try to do better about keeping you all updated

The Big Move

Only two days after graduation, we loaded up the moving truck and the day after that, we made the LONG drive back to Utah. Thanks to the people that came over to help us load, it only took us one hour! That is definitely a record. I know my "system" drove Jeff and a couple other people crazy, but it sure made the transition go smoothly. Jeff drove the big truck and I drove with the kids. The kids and I made it in 14 hours and Jeff got there an hour and a half later.

If you're wondering where we moved to, the answer is complicated. Jeff is in Lehi at his parents' house while he studies for the bar exam. The boys and I are mostly at my parents' house in Elko until the end of July, then will be in Lehi until we can buy a house. Hopefully we will be able to buy a house in October or November. We'll let you know when we have another change of address.

Graduation!!!!!!!

Jeff graduated from Law School! The past three years have been the most difficult and best years of our marriage (at least I think so, Jeff may have a different opinion). I am so proud of Jeff for his countless hours of study and stress, especially when I wasn't very supportive and selfish with my time with him. We were lucky enough to have our parents there to celebrate this great accomplishment. We also had a fun time afterwards at the Websters' clubhouse (which was beautifully decorated, by the way) for dinner and dessert with many of the great friends we made while living in Lincoln. I can't express how much we appreciated everything these great people did for us and for the friendships we made. They really became our family while we were so far from home.I don't know if I've ever seen Jeff so happy.

All the LDS law graduates (missing: Mark)

Happy Birthday Ryan!

I can't believe it has been a year since Ryan joined our family! What an amazing little boy he is. We are so blessed to have our sweet little Ryan. For those we have not been around lately, Ryan has developed quite the personality. He is still very cuddly, but has developed a very strong, determined side to him as well. He gets into EVERYTHING, and we have a hard time keeping things out of his reach since he climbs on anything he can get on top of and has managed to get up on the couch unassisted.

I don't think he really knew what to do with the cake at first. He obviously figured it out....

Gymnastics

Ammon started taking a gymnastics class about a month and a half ago. He needed a way to get the wiggles out after being cooped up all winter. He has really enjoyed it. He does headstands and "tuck and rolls" all day, every day. I caught him in the middle of a kartwheel.

Zoo

I took advantage of Jeff being home and we went to the Omaha Zoo. I figured this would be the last chance for all of us to go before we move. The gorilla came right up to the glass and looked in. I was able to get almost the exact same shot as one we took a year ago. What a difference a year makes!

Nauvoo for Spring Break

It's been a long time since we've actually done anything fun over spring break. We decided to make the trip to Nauvoo before we move away from the midwest. We went with Jim and Heidi and had a really good time.



Here we are at Carthage right before Ammon decided to throw up in the Visitor's Center. Jeff's cat-life reflexes minimized the mess. We're so lucky to have great friends like Jim and Heidi who didn't hesitate to help.

The neatest house had to be the Browning home. What a fantastic collection of guns!


Ammon making rope at the Family Living Center.