Hey everyone~

So i've finally been able to figure out this blog thing. What a great idea Anjuli, thanks for setting this all up. It is so fun to read and look at all the pics everyone has posted. It is a lot of fun knowing how everyone is doing. Yesterday a bunch of moms got together at the West Ellensburg park for the afternoon and I must admit I missed seeing everyone that has moved. WEll we are doing well as a family. It has been a wonderful summer. We have been enjoying the nice weather and staying busy. We have been visiting both families, gone camping, competed in triathlons, spent time with my sister and her soon to be fiance(very exciting for our family that she has finally found "the ONE") painted and redecorated my other sisters bedroom, went to the Kenny CHesney concert for our anniversary(my fav. country singer and a concert I would recommend to anyone) and most importantly celebrated Dalans FIRST birthday!

hey all

So we're leaving for Idaho and Utah early Friday morning. I was wondering if any of you could give me ideas on how to keep the kids completley silent the whole way. Ok...well maybe that's asking too much. But you know what I meant.
Jamie--I couldn't believe that Teri wasn't going to be doing pre-school next year! Corgan LOVED going. Yeah, some mornings he wouldn't want to go, but that was only because a new 'Little Einsteins' was on and he would miss the ending. ;) We do have him enrolled at the new ECEAP place at the old Kittitas HS. I'm going to go with him a couple days and if it's not what I want then we'll just pull him out. It really is frustrating, because now that he has gone to pre-school I don't want to just not have him go. What about you? What are you going to do with Kyler? Corgan loved the pictures of him on your blog. Super cute, all of your kids.
Hey Anyone---how do you add other people's blogs on your own? And how do you change the layout? Those are probably stupid questions; but it is me asking them, so not really. ;) Hope you all are doing well in your new homes.

My sister takes amazing photos...Matt and Audrey are at the reflecting pool at the Portland Temple, and I am standing on the Oregon coast at sunset a couple months back.

We're alive!

Hello Everyone,

Sorry it took me so long to do this...our move has been crazy and we had no internet access for quite awhile. Plus, a day after we got here, we went to a family reunion in Lake Tahoe for a week. I am still not unpacked.

Anyway, we really love Portland. Not to rub it in, but the weather is so much more moderate here. It has been between 65-80F almost every day! Very nice...especially as I get more pregnant. We had a scare and were in the ER last night (all night) but all is well--false alarm-- and we are still planning on making it all the way until Oct. 23ish for baby #2. For those who might not have heard, we are having another little girl and naming her Avalee Mae James. Audrey is excited, so we will see if that sticks. She loves her new nursery because there are several girls her age who will will dress up with her and play princess. :)

Wish we actually knew some people here though. You don't realize how great it is to have friends nearby until you have to go to the hospital and wake up your toddler at 3am or want to plan a birthday party but have no one to invite! :( Anyway, we miss all of you. I really would love to post more pics, but I am still in the market for a digital camera, so if any of you photo-savvy people have suggestions, throw them our way! Good to hear about everyone's adventures!

New Layout

I hope you like the new look!!! I just wanted to have it be unique to us!! Any suggestions just let me know!

Miss you all!!!

Well we made it to Maryland and so far the humidity is killing me. I know you warned me, Emily! We haven't had a chance to go to church yet but our neighbors seem nice!! I feel a little crowded when I go outside because we live in a town home, with people on either side and right across the street. Inside the house is fine, I actually feel like I can breath unlike our little crowded apartment in E-burg. I miss you all so much and so do my boys. Love you all!!
Check my blog for more photos!!!
Yellowstone!

Mt. Rushmore!

it's a small world after all

hey anjuli--making a long story short....my grandpa died last week, went to the services with my mom and dad yesterday. my mom's old piano teacher was there. and guess what? joseph's grandma was my mom's piano teacher growing up!!! isn't that funny? maria fry was my mom's piano teacher! it really is a small world, especially in the church. well, hope your move went well!

Hi everyone. It is great to hear from you Jamie. It looks like Kyler is already exploring everywhere. Amie just had her first birthday and I have to admit I had fun decorating her cake. I think it turned out cute. Amie thought it tasted pretty good. She ate her entire cupcake. She has the biggest sweet tooth. Well I hope this posts right. Talk to you all soon I hope!

Rachel...

I love the pictures! Your kids are so cute, I just love how tiny Lily is!!! And Blake is so cute! Man, I totally admire you for even thinking about when your next one will come, after 3 I was pretty much good! And so far, I'm still feeling that way...I'll let you know if things change! :) Yes, I must admit, I am LOVING the washer and dryer! I'm pretty sure I teared up the first 10 loads! It is plenty hot here, but it's monsoon season, and so when the rain comes in, it cools down to about 75-80 degrees, so that's nice, but it is only that cool while it's pouring rain! I'm surviving (and I use that term loosely!) with Stan gone, it's definitely an adjustment over CWU! But he does make it home for lunch sometimes and he's home for dinner...but I have to admit, I've been very spoiled and it's just not the same! But our ward is nice and there are quite a few young families, so I'll have to scope out the ones with kids the same age and have pitty parties together! j/k, it's really not THAT bad, and we just have to survive this first year and then everyone says that it gets a LOT easier! (At least on the time aspect of things!) Other than that...spread the word that some more chicas should post on here! It would be fun to hear from everyone! Hope you're doing well! Are you going to send Corgan to the same teacher for pre-school? I got the letter before I left that she wasn't going to be the ECEAP teacher anymore :((((, that sucks! Well keep the posts and pics coming!
LOVE THEM!

hey Jamie--Things are good. The kids are fine. Blake is growing into a little boy...no longer a newborn. Usually at this time I feel like I could handle having another one, but that's not the case this time around. I'm thinking of waiting until Blake is 2 before we start trying again. :o} So how are things for you? Adjusting to Stan being gone all day? If you're like me, you won't be. I don't like it when Aaron is gone all day. It's just so much eaiser with someone else there to handle things. But I guess somehow we manage without them. I'd complain to you about the heat, but I know that we don't have anything on the heat that you get to enjoy down there. I do have to say how JEALOUS I am over your washer and dryer. What's that like? I dream about it every time I do laundry. Ahhhh.... I really wish we had our own because I'm going to try and potty train Lily soon and I know what kind of messes I'll be cleaning up. Having a washer and dryer at home would make that process a lot eaiser. much love--rachel