Graduation

We did it.

Graduation.

It really happened.

It was a good day, slightly surreal, emotional, busy, hot, sad to leave, proud, but mostly very happy.

It's funny, for five years of hard, hard work we'd looked forward to graduation.  Wished for it, hoped for it, worried for it, and now it's here.  

I don't really feel like the whole experience was over before we knew it, but I do feel like I can't believe it's done.

I think it's hard, for me at least, to be able to write what 5 years of work meant.  Graduation was a summation and celebration of those 5 years, so it was a good day. 

We've really come to love Eugene (I even didn't mind the rain this last winter), our church ward here, and especially our friends here.  It will be very different to not have them around and we will surely miss them, but we are very excited that Isaac has a job and we are looking forward to and excited for our new adventure! 

Good job, Isaac, on all your hard work!

This was the first weekend we moved to Eugene.  We are so different now - emotionally, mentally, family size, physically - I guess alot happens in 5 years!

Pomp and Circumstance

Isaac, a 7th year I don't know, Chris, and Harold

Being hooded by Glen.

Ben, Isaac, and Glen.  

We are so grateful to Ben and Glen (and Jason) for their friendship, advising, constructive criticism, and help!

Isaac and his mom

Ben, Isaac, Harold (Isaac's office mate), and Glen

We are grateful our families made the effort to come out!

It was hot

Yes!

It was also my birthday - pretty good present for Isaac to graduate with a Ph.D!

And last, but certainly not least.  I can't get the video of this to download, but here's a link to it:  Graduation Video   

Asher had a cute little moment during graduation.  I was taking pictures on the other side of the audience from the kids and my parents.  The announcer calls Isaac's name and there is quiet as the person walks up to the stage, the clapping comes afterwards.  But, in that silence as Isaac was walking up to the stage we hear, clear as a bell, Asher's little voice ringing out, "Go Daddyyyyyyyyy!!!!"t was just the cutest thing and brought a chuckle from the audience and got Isaac and I a little choked up.  

18 months

Hooray for being 18 months!

A little bit about the whippers:

First day of nursery - no problems

Loves: dogs, crackers, and the bath
Does not love: the grocery store
Favorite things to do: suck her thumb while twirling her hair, and going outside.

Emry is really pretty easy.  The grocery store and church bring out her crazy mad side, but other than that she's pretty mild.
The boys really didn't have any stranger anxiety, Emry definitely has some.   She's pretty shy around new people.
She took awhile to start talking, which had me a bit worried, but now she's starting to say a bit more.  She can say: no, mine(screaming), cracker(cka-cka), hi, bye bye, where are you, Daddy, Momma, out, bow, yeah, and shoe.
She loves clothes and especially shoes.  She will point and point at her shoes until we acknowledge them.
She is probably our best sleeper (we'll pay for that thumb sucking later, I know!)
She loves to make animal noises : dog, cat, bird, snake, and her latest today is owl.
weight: 25 lbs (76%)
height: 32" (56%)
We love her big hugs and big puckered kisses.

Summer Smash-up

It's just the beginning of summer, but life has already been crazy.  

Here's a little bit of what has been going on

We went to a Neverland themed birthday party.  Here we have John, Wendy, and Peter Pan

We've had wonderful days with temperatures in the 80's.  And then it gets cold and cloudy again.  But, on one of those sunny days we broke out the sprinkler and the kids had a blast.

Emry would start to feel the drops...

...and come crying back to me.

-crash-

Some TV time

For all the messes they make, it makes my heart smile when I find them washing the dishes all on their own (before one can get completely dressed, no less).  Even if I did have to re-wash the dishes.

We couldn't have asked for better friends here(even the ones not in this pic).  Everyone is leaving for summer vacations and then we are leaving for good before they get back.  These guys have been the best to spend these 5 years with.  They've helped me, laughed with me, listened to me, sympathized with me, watched my kids alot, and loved my kids probably as much as we do.  Sitting out at the playgrounds with them will be some of my favorite memories and missing them will be the hardest part about leaving here. 

Emry has gotten over her fear of dogs and is in love with them now.

And now, despite my good intentions of starting to pack early and just do a box or two a day, I am rushing to get everything packed up.

 Happy Summer!

He's 4!

I can't believe this chubs is 4 years old! 

He had been looking forward to this birthday for awhile.  We (and random people in the store) would frequently hear, "soon I'm going to change 4"

Kason, in typical Kason style, woke up early and drew pictures for Asher.  This one took me a second to figure out...very phonetic.

We played outside, always a favorite thing to do

and had cake!  Asher requested a Buzz Lightyear cake.  He has Buzz pajamas that he would wear every day and night if his mom would let him.

Getting his first look at the cake

We love our friends and that we all actually like to cram into our little apartments to have fun

Asher boy

A little bit about Asher:
-40 lbs, he's our linebacker
-I was trying to figure out a way to simply explain Asher.  I can't.  He is such a laid back, easy going, go with the flow without a care type of guy, yet at the same time I sometimes feel that his head is so thick and he is so headstrong.  He is usually the one that I have to ask to do things a million times and push him to do it.
-He needs his sleep.
-I think he is hilarious.  He says the funniest things.  He's the kid where I tell him to say a nice prayer, but I'm secretly excited to hear the funny, random things he's going to come up with in it.
-He has a sweet side and will come up to Emry and say "Hey, sweet girl"
-Let's face it, he can be a wimp for all his tough talk.
-He has been really into building airplanes and cars with Lego's recently.