You've come a long way baby!

I must have shut my eyes for a few moments because when I opened them...Marni had gotten so much bigger! Ok, maybe nobody else sees it but me...I guess only moms tend to pick up on these things. She just barely starting walking not too long ago and now she is running AWAY from me every chance she gets! Luckily she still wants to take her naps...I guess I still need something that reminds me of my baby. I'm not quite ready to call her a toddler yet, even though she is. And she is not shy either. The other night at the ward Christmas night, she was flirting relentlessly with a much older man at the table next to us. She loves any attention anyone gives her...she is alot like her older brother. In this picture, she has taken over Jayden's dollhouse. Jayden doesn't even play with it anymore (I guess she thinks she has outgrown it but I say not yet by a long shot!). Marni finds any little toy she can get a hold of and finds a place in her dollhouse for it. All three of my kids like to collect things; Jayden still collects rocks and seashells, Trey finds rocks and (due to his grandma cutler) has a nice collection of banks, and Marni also collects rocks and has now decided to collect any of her older siblings toys she can get and stash them in her dollhouse. What is it with the rocks?

Recent Trip to Hawaii!

Well, thanks to my mom who came and stayed with our kids for a week, we were able to go to Hawaii with some friends of ours! We stayed on the Maui Island at the Wailea Beach Villas Condos, they were amazing! We enjoyed bodyboarding, snorkeling which we saw some sea turtles, zipline, some amazing food, and Brent even took surfing lessons! I think that next time I definately want to get some surf lessons too...I actually regret not doing it with Brent at the same time! Brent also went with the other guys and took a Harley ride on the notorious "Road to Hana." He had a blast and wants me to go with him next time too, except we will probably rent an open jeep instead of a Harley! Hawaii was awesome and we will definately go back soon!

Some bodyboarding:

This is Tony and Brent catching the curl!

This is me...you can't tell but I'm actually catching the curl just right to be pushed by the wave!

Some zipline pictures: (I don't have any of Brent, hoping to get some from Michelle)

Tony, Mary, Michelle, Joel, Bob, Tiffanni, Todd, Dena, Brent & I, Ruben all geared up!

So graceful!

Some pictures of Brent during his surf lessons and trying out his skills. He did really well which is why I wish I would have done it too. Brent says it is really pretty easy, the hard part is paddling against the swells to get out to the next wave.

Sexy Brent...oh yah...those surf booties really bring out your manlyness!

Show that board who is boss...in your 80's style red half shirt! (Really a rashguard)That is Brent on the left if you can't see his red shirt very well.
Smooth as butter!Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee....wipeout!

And the ride to Hana:

Joel, Tony, Ruben, Todd, and Brent on their Harleys!

Such a stud!
Joel and Tony in the back, Ruben, Brent and Todd in front.

This guy is a native they met while in Hana...Hang loose!

We had a really great time and are so grateful that Tony invited us to go along with them to paradise! We had a lot of fun and will miss our friends since we now live in Oregon. Thanks again you guys!

We're Still Here...Alive and Kickin!

Wow, has it really been that long since my last post?! Well, a whole heck of a lot has been going on lately. First and for most...Brent's clinic is open and buzzing! We had a Grand Opening on Friday (Nov. 7) and it was a huge success! The mayor came and he was very excited for Brent's clinic to be here in Dallas. Many members of the Chamber of Commerce came, some doctors and some referral clerks came as well! There was a huge production made of the ribbon cutting which I didn't get pictures of but the lady at the Chamber promised to send them to me via email soon. She took lots of pictures of the kids...they behaved so well! Marni stole the show and many of the people who came were giving her food to eat and taking her picture! She would even say "cheese" for them...what a poser!

Brent's clinic is going very well! He is seeing about 8 patients a week and continues to recieve more referrals each week. His office manager is a true blessing for our clinic. She even had the entire congregation at her church praying for the success of the clinic! Everyone we meet here in Dallas has been so kind and enthusiastic about the clinic and they want to make sure that we like it here in Dallas!

Here are a few pics of the inside of the clinic...if it looks pretty small inside...it is! But just starting out, the clinic is plenty big until we find a place or build a building for the long run. I painted the Dallas Physical Therapy sign on the wall...it is paint and not vinyl lettering. I thought it turned out pretty good...its alot better than the plain white wall we had before.

We also had Halloween since my last post and for the grandparents...here are the pictures of the kids. Jayden was a witch, Trey was Spiderman, and Marni was a ballerina. We forgot to take pictures of Jayden and Marni right after they got into their costumes and remembered after all the hoopla that evening to even get their pictures. That is why Trey is the only one who had is pic taken inside.

They had a great time trick-0-treating...Trey woke up the next day and asked if we could go again that night. We are having a real blast here in Dallas, OR and even enjoy the occasional rain we get! Jayden and Trey are loving their schools and I am able to volunteer in Jayden's class every Thursday. We love the ability to take off to the coast whenever we feel like it since it is only an hour drive. We miss our friends in Othello, WA as well as our families scattered just about everywhere...but we are feeling pretty certain that we will be calling Dallas OR our home for a good long time to come! Unless I fall in love with Hawaii (we leave this coming Saturday...YEEEEEHAW!) and can some how convince Brent to set up a clinic there...hey you never know...our last trip to Mexico I even got him looking into school options for the kids if we moved to Mexico. Whoever said the wife has no pull with her husband just isn't pullin in the right direction!!! I fell in love with Dallas from the very beginning and have never doubted my feelings. This is where I want to raise my kids and grow old! We love it here!

RainyDayThursday!

Don't get me wrong...I don't have the rainyday blues. I love the rain and since we have lived here in Dallas for the past 4 weeks, today is the first day it has been truly rainy. Last night it came down in torrents and I actually felt a little excited and peaceful all at the same time...weird?
Anywhooo...Brent has just left to take the kids to school and then back to setting up his exercise equipment at his "new office" (hee, hee), I just layed Marni down for a nap, started some new loads of laundry (washer and dryer, aahh!), piled the clean laundry on my bed and shut my door to fold later (much later:)), and began fixing myself some lunch. Now...lunch is usually a boring subject but I have a few random thoughts about mine today. I decided, in my infinite wisdom, that I should have a nice bowl of soup and a mug of hot cocoa since it is raining outside. I filled my mug with water and placed in the microwave for 1 minute to heat since I'm too lazy to heat the water over the stove. I then pour my Campbell's Healthy Request (of course, right?) Tomato soup into the pan with a little milk in it. I then mindlessly stir my soup in the pan thinking, "Why do I add milk to the tomato soup? Mom always made it that way...because it tastes better?...or because she is trying to make it stretch?...can you even taste it in there?" While I'm stirring, the microwave beeps and I retrieve my soon to be hot cocoa vessel and open the Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa with Miny Marshmallows...here is the dilema...I always try to spoon out as many of the marshmallows as I can but they seem to be hiding in the cocoa, so I stir around to try and find them and I chance upon a little cluster of them and gently try to coax all of them on the spoon. Then, I find some more, repeat above and again find some more. Dilema...I've tried to get so many marshmallows that I end up with ALOT of cocoa as well and I'm easily pushing four spoonfuls of cocoa as apposed to the general two-scoop rule of thumb. So, after stirring it together, I take a sip to see just how rich it is to discover to my dismay that the water isn't even hot, maybe luke warm but that's pushing it. The mug (vessel) is hot to the touch however the water is laughing at me!!! Stupid Microwave! So, what do I do? Stick it back into the microwave of course...this time only 30 seconds to be safe. I turn back to my soup and think to myself, "This sure is taking a long time to heat up!" glance at the stove and see that I have totally forgotten to turn on the burner! Dough!!!! Turn on the burner, stirring the soup, and the microwave beeps! Finally, one hot cocoa coming right up!!! I gingerly take a sip only to burn every tastebud off of my tongue...apparently 30 seconds in the microwave is an hour on the stove!!! Now my soup is heated through but I can't even enjoy it now because I've burned my tongue! Continual quandery: why did I put milk in the tomato soup? I can't even taste it now! Guess that will have to be solved next time...until then I need to read some blogs to take my mind off my uncurable forgettfulness. And, yes, I did turn off the stove...this time!!!

We've Moved to Dallas!.....Oregon!?!

WoooHoooo! We have moved (yet again) to Dallas, Oregon! This is move #14 in nine years of marriage and hopefully we will be putting down roots here in Dallas. Brent is still with Columbia Physical Therapy and will be opening a new clinic for his company here in Dallas. The only other physical therapists in Dallas are with the hospital, so this is a unique opportunity for Brent to come in and set up a private clinic. This gives Brent the advantage of seeing those patients that need physical therapy that have not been going to the hospital but rather private doctors and specialists. We are so excited, not to mention we love Dallas!



I have a bit of catching up to do since my last post! When we moved it took a couple of weeks to get internet setup in our (very small) apartment, then I couldn't find the computer cable to my phone where my pictures are, and then I lost my phone at Target in Salem... but I got it back! So, I'm finally posting a blog and there is so much that has happened! I think that I'll break it up in the next few days so I'm not putting up a super long post.




So, first but not least...Jayden started Kindergarten this year!









Jayden began school on September 2nd and she loves it! Her teacher is so fun, she is just like every kindergarten teacher should be like...older like a grandma and absolutely loves little children. Jayden is quickly becoming the little independent kindergartner as well! The first day of class, she walked into the classroom without even looking back to say goodbye to her mom! The teacher had to tell her to come back and say goodbye. Then, when I went to pick her up...her teacher informed me that she was quite upset that her mom comes to get her instead of being able to ride the bus home. We only live a block from the school!

Jayden designed her own back pack this year...she put a whole bunch of buttons and iron-ons on her back pack and then we used puff paint to put her name on the pack. She is already establishing her own style and I might add that she is very artistic as well!

A few days later, Jayden informed me that, and I quote: "You know mom, there is a girl in my class that is dropped off by her mom and she walks into the school all by herself!" So, the next day, Jayden decided that she was quite capable of doing the same. I pulled up to the crosswalk, Jayden got out of the car after saying goodbye to Trey, Marni and I, was very dramatic about looking both ways before crossing the crosswalk, and then just before she walked through the doors, she turned and waved with a great big smile letting me know that my baby was growing up! I have to say, a part of me was crushed that she no longer needed my hand, but a greater part of me was so proud to see my little girl becoming braver and more independent as she discovers her own strength!

Then...a few weeks later....Trey started Preschool!

Trey was so excited when we arrived to drop him off (he still holds my hand! Ohh!) and he had his own hook to hang his backpack on, his own cup with his own crayons, "goo stick" and "zizzors!" I love that his backpack is almost as big as him...but he loves it...he feels so grown up! Lately we have been struggling with getting Trey to use the bathroom when he needs to pee. It is like he just doesn't care, he is too busy playing. So, we decided to set a rule with Trey...if he wets his pants at preschool, he will come home immediately and won't go back that day. Guess what...so far it has worked!!! Yea!! He hasn't wet his pants for the past three days, even when he is at home!!! I'm hoping that he has finally got the hang of it!

The other great thing about Trey's preschool...Trey goes to preschool for the same duration as Jayden! Jayden has half-day kindergarten in the afternoon from 12 to 2:40. Trey goes from 12 to 2:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! This gives me at least two hours of those days to get "my stuff" done since Marni takes her nap during that time! I am so Lucky!!!

I'll post more of our tiny adventures tomorrow!

Where in the world is Island Park?

In the "About Me" section of my blog, I mention that I am from Island Park, ID. Alot of people have never heard of Island Park so I thought I would extrapolate on my old stomping grounds. First of all, Island Park is located about an hour drive north of Rexburg Idaho on Hwy 20 and a half hour drive south of West Yellowstone, MT. The place looks just like Yellowstone but without the stinky geysers. Island Park is known primarily for its excellent fishing on the world renowned Henry's Fork of the Snake River and amazing snowmobiling during the long winter months. What some people don't know is that it has the longest main street in the U.S. since main street is Hwy 20 for almost 20 miles. Alot of people like to camp there during the summer since the area provides much the same that Yellowstone does but without the traffic and tourists. Hopefully it will stay that way and not get overdeveloped like Jackson Hole.

Growing up in Island Park was just like being on vacation all the time, which has it's ups as well as its downs. Overall, I love the area and I'm so thankful for the opportunity that my parents gave us kids by moving there. While growing up, we lived in a rather small trailer for all seven of us, which you can imagine had its rough times. However, I think that the experience taught our family some things about ourselves that we may have never known. I'll leave those details within the family. (I do believe that some things just shouldn't be shared on a blog.)

But after eight years of hard work, my parents were able to build a beautiful log home! This is where no words could express the gratitude and admiration that I have for my parents. This home they built was brought about by so many tears, so many prayers, laughter, hard work and things falling into place that could only be explained as the Lord blessing my parents. There are not many people I know that have put so much into a dream/goal as what my parents and family gave for this home. Also, the talent and time spent making this home individually their home is quite remarkable. There was effort put in by every member of the family, some more than others, however the overall stress, time, and sweat belongs solely to my mom and dad. And not only did they build a beautiful home, but then they went above and beyond and maintain what I believe to be the most beautiful yard in Island Park. In front of their home is a large waterfall with many small ponds and creeks that eventually lead to the large pond in the center of the property. They have a large swath of grass, you heard me right, grass in Island Park, which they mow and keep looking green as if they lived in more temperate climates.

I could go on and on about my parents, their home, and yard but I think I'm bordering cheese and a rather long blog so I think I'll leave it at that. I love you mom and dad! Visit Island Park, take your kids, they will love it! And stop and say hi to my folks, they're totally cool!

9 Year Anniversary!!

Today we celebrated our 9 year anniversary! Brent and I met in Moscow, Idaho while attending college at University of Idaho. We are night and day opposites of each other: Brent is organized, disciplined, goal oriented, focused, and an intravert. I am basically his exact opposite! A match made in heaven! And after 9 years we both keep each other on our toes! Wow, where did it all go? Seems like those years just flew by. But, when I think back on everything that has happened within those 9 years, I get exhausted! I need to lie down! We have moved 13 times since we have been married. We have been members of 6 different wards! We both got our bachelors degrees and Brent got his graduate degree as well as becoming licensed to practice physical therapy. We have gone to Banff, Alberta, Mexico, Florida Keys, Oregon coast (countless times), Victoria, B.C. and the San Juan Islands. We bought our first home. I had my thyroid radiated and Brent got lasic surgery done on both eyes. We rehabbed a home built in 1952 and successfully sold it 5 months later. However, the greatest accomplishments that we have ever achieved is having (so far) three beautiful, healthy, smart and fun kids: Jayden, 5, Trey, 3 and Marni, 17 months! They are our everything! We thought the day we were sealed for time and all eternity in the temple was the most wonderful day of our lives. But, nothing can compare to the overwhelming feeling of love, gratitude and excitement that comes with a child! Life before looks dull and gray compared to the bright sunshine that our children bring to us! I am so thankful for everything that the Lord has blessed our lives with! Today has been a good day!