Blow up fun...

We went to Justin's company wide picnic last week and the boys had a lot of fun. I think they liked the gigantic blow up toys best. Or maybe the snow cones... or the cotton candy...

It's a "Noster-rister"

Asher started talking really early. He would parrot anything you wanted him to. There aren't many words he can't say, and he has always been pretty easy to understand. So, when there is a word that trips up his little tongue we really love to hear him say it. Our current favorite is Rhinoceros otherwise known as a "Noster-rister"

The boys were hiding from me...

... and the funny thing is they really thought I couldn't see them.

Caleb Spencer...

This was Caleb going on very important business with his backpack and bicycle helmet.

Such a happy kid. I could just kiss him all day long!

A golfer and his caddy...

Asher likes to play golf just like his dad.

Caleb likes to be the caddy.

(It was a little overcast this day and the way-too-small coat was the only thing I could find for Caleb because we hadn't unpacked yet. And Asher in that hat! These pictures crack me up.)

We love rain...

When we first moved here they were having unusually rainy weather. For about a week it rained everyday, but the great part is it only rains for a short time then it's beautiful the rest of the day. We like the rain so we loved every bit of it.

Asher and Caleb liked looking out the big front window and watching the rain together.

We love Andy...

My boys have some super cool cousins. They really miss them and talk about them all a lot. It's especially awesome to me how highly they think of Andy. If it's cool then it must have been Andy's. If it's fun then Andy must have taught them how to do it. I grew up with fantastic cousins and I'm so glad that my kids have them too!

Asher and Caleb were really excited about getting mail from Lily and Andy at our new home in Washington. We love you Lily, Andy, Ben and Baby Grace!

"We have a sister in mommy's tummy!"

Today we got to go see our baby girl in the ultrasound. It was so fun! We are so excited to be having a girl! A sister is just what we need. The doctors office is right across the street from Justin's work so he met us there. The boys were excited and they were so good while we were there. She looks healthy and whole and we feel so blessed once again. When the sonographer said that she was waving at us Caleb started waving back and yelling "hi". They are so happy for a sister and still insist her name should be "Jujigaka".

By the way, this Chinese lunar Calendar was right on at predicting the gender all three times. Crazy. I guess my body runs on a chinese schedule;) Who knew?
Caleb really liked seeing her and was sad when it was time to leave. He didn't let go of the pictures for the next two hours until I finally made him take a nap without them. He was being silly in this picture with his sad little face....

so we asked him for a smile and this was the best we got.

Little sister, we are so excited to meet you and we love you already! You've got some pretty fantastic older brothers that are already talking about what they will teach you how to do. "Throwing rocks...running around in a circle...climbing into our chairs..." They might be a little disappointed when you're born not quite ready to learn how to jump on one foot.

We'll see you in October!

Caleb's in love...

...with his Uncle Rex's new Harley Davidson. In love I tell you! A spark came on in his eyes when he saw it for the first time. Doesn't he look happy?! It was so funny because it was like it was in his blood or something. Like he was coming home. What am I in for?

He just rubbed it, looked at all the shiny buttons and knobs, and admired his reflection in the glossy, blue finish. I'd ask him if he liked Rex's new Harley and he would say "No, MINE!"

The next day I even let him take a ride on it with Rex :{

Rex was awesome! He even let him start it up.

Every time we would try to stop and take him off he would say "No! Again, Harwee, Harwee!!"

Thanks, Rex, for letting Caleb think he owned your bike for the best hour of his life. And at the end of the video he is not saying "done" he is saying "AGAIN". Also, pardon my nervous hyperventilation noises in the background. Watching my not-even-2-year old on a motorcycle is not really my idea of fun. I'm trying to grow here people!

Asher also got to ride on the Harley. He liked it once, but was ready to move on after. Now whenever he sees or hears a motorcycle he asks if it's Rex and Tania.

Speaking of my fickle ferapist...

Well, the last month has been a whirlwind, but the most exciting part was for sure that Justin graduated with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy!! It takes me back to the spring day in early 2003. Sitting on the grass at Scera park in Orem Utah with the boy that made my heart skip a beat, talking about future career plans.

I was so impressed to watch as he went though the process of picking an area in which to dedicate his life. I remember he was pretty intent on studying it out and doing his soul searching at the beginning so he wasn't changing his mind or his major in a few years. He looked to his examples and heros and those whose lives he wanted to emulate. He thought of his future family (i'm so grateful!) and what could make him truly happy. And, that was the beginning of our journey.

When you do something that takes 7 years it's easy to get lost somewhere in the middle. Somedays to feel like it might never end. That our lives would always be defined by semesters. Justin did wonderfully at BYU, with a needy wife and 2 jobs. It was a good part of our lives. Easy in retrospect. Then he started gradate school in a top rated program without so much as a weeks break. He did great, once again with a needy wife and 2 kids. I'd say it was the hardest and most rewarding season of our lives thus far. Why do those two always seem to go together? We know that this isn't our last hurdle, and that working and real life won't be without it's challenges, but I think we've started out on the right foot.

Thank you BYU, thank you Physical Therapy department at the University of Utah, Thank you everyone who gave us a chance or a helping hand or a word of encouragement, thank you family for the never ending support, thank you economy for being in a good place for us right now, thank you God for being in control of all of the above.

Thank you Justin for being my SK.

At the department hooding ceremony. As they were hooding him I realized that I never once doubted that this day would come and just how thankful I am to have been a part of it from the very beginning. I'm so proud of you!

Asher and Caleb are also very proud of Dr. Carrier! Way to go, dad!

Thanks for giving them such a wonderful example.

Oh, how I love you.

Fickle Ferapist...

Asher says Justin is a "Fickle Ferapist" (physical therapist), and I think it's funny. The end.

ps. check out caleb's bed hair. i love it.

Goodbye Zoo, we'll miss you!

When Justin finished his internship and we were all finally together again we took a family trip to the zoo. We sure have fun there. It had been a rough few months of traveling and being separated (I don't know who it was harder on, Asher or me... or maybe the people who had to listen to Asher or me) but I think the boys could sense that it was over, we were together again and it was going to stay that way.

We even went into the weird rodent/reptile house thing that I usually try to avoid. It was for sure the boys favorite part.

Riding the train.

Happy to be together.

Such good little buddies.

When did my babies get so big? and when did Caleb get so blonde?

Thanks Andy (and Lisa)...

So, yesterday I pulled out some of Asher's old shoes that I thought might fit Caleb now. Caleb was very pleased with them and let out some super excited "Ooooo's" while Justin was tying the laces. He hopped down and started slowly walking around the living room to try them out. I noticed he was quietly saying "Andy's shoes. Andy's shoes. Andy's shoes." I told him they used to be Asher's shoes and now they were Caleb's. He didn't want to hear it. "No! Andy's!" I decided not to pop his hand-me-down's from a super cool older cousin bubble.

Asher also loves getting hand me downs from Andy. These superman jammies might be his favorite... or the orange big boy jacket... or the rocket shirt.

I think they actually gave him super jumping powers!