Back!

I am dancing in my shoes! After a long week, plus a few days I finally have internet back. Wow, I didn't really miss tv, it was fun picking out old movies every night to watch with Wade, but the internet, now that is a different story. I do have to admit this helped me get a lot of unpacking done, but bring on the blogs. I've got a busy week helping my mom with some things, but I can't wait to read what everyone is doing.

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We've been so busy, unpacking, getting settled. Our little garden is growing, growing. I've got some tomatoes growing and flowering. The boys herbs are doing well. I've got chives growing like weeds on the other side of the yard. Noah planted some chalk today. (small sticks under the boxed plants) I wonder how that will taste, it might need some sort of cheese sauce to liven it up at dinner time.

Other news: Wade did buy a lawn mower. (post below) Gage lost a tooth. (post below) Avery rolled for the first time (only Gage saw it and she won't perform for the camera). Gage and Avery passed their physicals, Noah is good too. Wade started work 2 weeks ago and so far so good. He's done with orientation and last Friday he got to go to his first surgery AND got his first paycheck. Hallelujah! Things are looking up. (knock on wood)

the mountain is out and the berries are on

This picture doesn't do it justice, but the boys have an awesome view of Mount Rainer - or the old volcano as they like to call it. On beautiful sunny days when "the mountain is out" we love to look at it. There are days you could look and not even know it's there.


The berries are on and they are SO good! Wade had to work Saturday so we decided to make some freezer jam.

Tooth-less Joe

Gage lost his first tooth! Last Wednesday morning we had an early Dr. appointment for Noah, so I was trying to get everyone out the door while Gage kept complaining that his mouth hurt and that he couldn't eat his breakfast. I decided to let it go and handed him some milk and told him to just go get in the car, he was already a little grumpy since he had been up all night with a fever and had 5 shots the previous day for his kindergartner physical (YES - 5 shots! I really don't think he was behind, but the nurse said that there were a few extra he needed for Washington, lucky us!)

Anyway, we drove over to the doctors office and when we pulled off the freeway Gage said in a little voice, "Mommy, I think I got it out of my mouth, what was hurting, look at it." I replied that was good and glancing at him in the rear view mirror looked in the back seat to see this big toothless boy! I couldn't believe it! I was so excited I told him that it wasn't something hurting him but that he had lost his tooth...then he burst into tears!

Gage was so worried that his tooth had fallen out. As we pulled into the Dr. office parking lot I had him get out and show me his little tooth. He was so sad about it, but I had to keep giving him loves and telling him that big kids loose their teeth. It really was so cute, I finally got him calmed down and we got to our appointment.

When we were telling him about the tooth fairy that night Noah kept telling us that his teeth would NEVER fall out. However, as soon as he saw that Gage got a note and some money from the tooth fairy the next day he kept asking us when he could lose a tooth as well.

One tooth down - more to go!

Lawn Mowing

We don't need no stinking lawn mower, we've got kids and scissors.

Tummy Time

Miss Avery Ann loves her tummy time. In fact she cries most of the time we lay her on her back so if I ever put her down (which doesn't happen all that often and my arms are proof) she gets laid down on her tummy. She is such a strong girl. I have no doubt she will crawl much faster than my boys did. In a matter of 10 minutes she can do a 180 and go from facing one direction to the other, all from her tummy! She has figured out that if she lifts up on her arms she can so much more. She loves doing tummy airplane moves. She coo's and talks to herself all the time while on her tummy. I honestly think part of the reason she dislikes her car seat so much is that she enjoys tummy time so much and has to lay on her back in her car seat.

We love Miss Avery, her cute tummy and smiley face.

House

After prayers, months of searching, 2 houses we "lost" hours before we could get offers on them, 3 houses we placed offers on and were out bid, we found this and are happy. We are renting. Heavenly Father doesn't need to hit us over our heads any more, we are disappointed to not buy, but sometimes we just need to have faith and not understand ever little thing. The option to buy later is still out there, but residency is only 3 years and we don't plan on making Washington our permanent home.

Anyway - it's 3 bed/2.5 bath. It has a garage, a fenced backyard and a place for me to plant my little garden, is only 10 from the hospital, is the school district I want and we have the keys so we can move in today! (we will this weekend) Happy Day! - more pictures when we get settled.

I'm back

2 weeks later and I'm back.

Below are a few posts. We are back in Washington. Wade started work today in a medical tent at a triathlon. The first medical decision he made as a Dr. was to put a band aid on a blister (good move Wade). We hope to have news on the housing front next week. We are really grateful for my parents and that we can stay here. Hopefully I will find time to read blogs soon and post more pictures.

4 Months

Avery Ann is 4 months old! Besides in the car she is such a joy. She smiles and talks and kicks her legs when she gets excited. She loves Gage and Grandpa Bullard. She loves tummy time. She drools like a maniac! She is so much fun to dress up (Heather, this outfit is SO stinkin' cute on her!) She loves to be propped up on the couch so she can watch her brothers, but usually she gets so excited she tries to sit up and face plants!She loves to look and grab at her two dolly toys. I guess I need to consider girl toys in the near future! I can't believe she is already 4 months old!

Beach June 2009

We've been super busy busy since back in Washington. Since Friday was Wade's last day of freedom before starting residency (He had to work Saturday at a medical tent for a triathlon) we decided to take the day off of house hunting and headed to the beach.

It was sweatshirt weather (60's) and grey and windy, but we had a great time.

Wade and Gage had a blast flying kites.

Like Father:

Like Son:

Avery got passed around and held by everyone.

We also had to torture her and make her feet touch the Pacific Ocean. She totally screamed at us for this one! haha!

Family October 2008

Family June 2009

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

The Monday before heading back to Washington we were able to visit the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. It was a very special day for Gage, he was so excited to be able to go into the temple and see all the special rooms. After the temple is dedicated it will only be open to worthy members of our church. You can read more about it by clicking HERE or HERE.


Wade's mom, his niece Shamae, Chandra, Daesha and Keegan were able to go with us. My sister Kathy and her family were going to be there as well until they all woke up sick that day.


We attempted to take a family picture, but it was so bright!

We started the day with a healthy breakfast at McDonalds and playing at the newly designed play place. It was all musical toys (like the keyboard on the movie BIG). The kids had a blast.

I am so thankful for temples on the earth. I know families can be together forever and that temples make this possible.

Utah Wrap-Up

Random fun things we did in Utah the past couple weeks we were there. In no certain order:

We took some time to visit the mountains.

Wade took some of our nephews hiking.

We played at Bridal Veil Falls.

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We visited with more friends. We tried to get pictures with everyone and still didn't get to it. We are getting close to having pictures with everyone...maybe our next trip we will remember.

Noah, Avery, Gage and Ammon. Ammon is a month younger than Avery but bigger! He is such a cute boy and we are so happy for John and Lindy that he joined their family. It seems like yesterday we were all at the U of U together - now John is a dentist and Wade is a podiatrist! They are heading back to Indiana for a 1 year general practice residency and then on to endodontist school.

Gage, Madison, Avery, Noah, Trent (and Tyson taking a nap). We love the Bakers. They are some of our best friends ever and a trip to Utah wouldn't be complete without them. They are family to us and we can't wait to see them again and meet their new little one coming soon!

Avery and Matthew

Penelope, Gage, Avery, Noah, Hannah and Matthew. We were able to visit with the Youngs one more time the day before we left. These girls are so cute. We love them and think they will love Tucson.

Dr. Young and Dr. Christiansen feeding and rocking their babies.

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We spent one day visiting one of our favorite parks in Pleasant Grove. It's so much fun we could spent all day there.

I have a picture of Gage in this same beehive when he was only 16 months old. He could stand in it then. It seems like yesterday!

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Wade's niece Shay graduated from High School. Way to go Shay! We are glad we were there for the big day, and anytime you need a fancy limo service, we've got your back:)

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The night before we left Wade's family all got together for root beer floats. His sisters then presented Wade with his graduation gift - a new quilt!

This might seem like an ordinary quilt when you first glance at it, but trust me...when Wade's sisters are behind something, nothing is just ordinary.

The center green section of the quilt is all feet. The feet of Wade's entire family quilted into this blanket! It's awesome! Each foot has a name signed inside it and not all feet are together, so Gage has fun trying to find all the pairs.

If you look close above, that is Wade's right foot and name. Below are Avery's feet, they are the only pair of feet together on the whole thing. The stitching is in this crazy bright orange and even the Mouse and Cheese (click on for full story) is included, he ran through the quilt with a glow in the dark thread - The pictures don't do it justice.

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And last but certainly not least - we got a special package from Iowa the day before we left town. Gage left his special blanket "C" in one of the hotels in Iowa. He was so sad when we found out and I called and called the hotel before we left the state trying to get it back for him. Since it was a holiday weekend the manager of housekeeping was out, but they assured me that they had a lost and found and that if they had found it they would kept items for 30 days after finding it. His blanket is really in shreds and Wade and I were a little afraid that they would find it in the sheets and just throw it out. After returning to Utah I finally got in touch with the right person and she knew exactly what blanket I was talking about! She even laughed when I said it probably looked a little "trashy" she said she had kids and totally understood. She sent it to Gage Fed-Ex.

He was so excited he couldn't stop smiling and we are so glad we got it in time for our move back to Washington!