Dr. J

He did it! Nicholas graduated from dental school (May 11th) and we couldn't be more proud of him. 

I can't believe it's over. It's been bittersweet watching everyone move away and enter the new chapter into their lives. I am very excited for this new beginning we are about to start as a family though. 

In case you didn't know, we are going to New Mexico! We will be in a town just North of Albuquerque called Rio Rancho. I'm excited to explore Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, and all the other neat places I've already heard of in New Mexico.

The biggest thing I'm excited for is to be closer to family. Our usual 10 hr drive to Colorado will be cut almost in half to a 5.5 hr drive. To us, five and a half hours is nothing, so we're excited. AND to make it even better, it's about 6 hrs from my favorite girl in the whole, wide, world: LU, my sister!! I'm so excited to be able to see her and her family more often. Her babies, Elizabeth & Jackson, are just the CUTEST things ever. Can't wait to squish their cute faces.

Also, we can drive to California to see my parents, and always stop on the way in AZ to see my sister which is about half way to California. New Mexico really does just seem like the perfect median for us! 

Well, the four years are over. They came and they went. A little faster than I expected at first. There were great days, and there were lonely nights, but overall, it was such a fun and memorable experience.  And Now it's off to the Land of Enchantment!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Nick's birthday was last week, the 28th of April. We (the kids and I) were so excited to celebrate with him! One, because birthdays are just fun and especially fun celebrating someone you love and making them feel special. And two, because it was the last day of Nick's Dental Boards and he would be done with all testing and requirements for dental school that day!!

We got everything ready for him while he was gone testing. We set up some gifts-- I tried to do 28, since it was his "golden" birthday, 28 years old on the 28th of April. Half of them ended up being candy bars I think.. ;) Anyways. While the kids were down I started making his cake. Can I just say I NEVER make a cake from scratch. I did this year though, that's how much I love my husband. It actually wasn't too hard, and it was Delicious!! Here is the recipe I used:

http://www.howdoesshe.com/german-chocolate-drizzle-cake/

After I baked the cake I lied down for a nap. Nick got home shortly after that. We had covered all of his gifts on the couch with a blanket, so that he wouldn't see any when he got home!

We waited for Katelyn and Jacob to wake up from their naps before opening gifts because I knew they would be SO sad (Katelyn especially) if they missed that.

Katelyn was so happy and so ready to celebrate! She loved giving daddy each gift and telling him what each one was.

 All set up before we covered it up

 The kids wanted a pic too, they deserve it since they helped me so much :)

 Jacob playing peek-a-boo.

 Katelyn getting a present for daddy

 She made a special card and picture for him

Later that night we had dinner. Nick made his own birthday dinner. Yeah, I know, it shoulda been me, but he wanted steak and NO ONE makes a better steak than he does. It was delicious. I've never really been a steak person until I met Nick. He cooks them SO good!

After that we sang to him and ate some cake. 

 The birthday cake, yum!

 Katelyn helped Nick blow out the candles

 Nick insisted he light his own candles, and he was super excited about it. Haha.

 Make a wish!

 Me n the kiddos

My sweet boy pre-glasses. Such a happy kid.

We hope Nick was happy too ;)
It was a good birthday. We are so lucky to have him in our lives and are SO happy we are just about done with Dental School! I'm so proud of all of his hard work, seriously, so proud.

FOUR

4

CUATRO

FOUR MORE DAYS PEOPLE!!!!!!! 

Can't wait until graduation :)

ONE MONTH

One month from today we will officially be graduated from Dental School! I can't believe it. I remember so clearly arriving to our new home, getting to know some of the fourth years who would be graduating soon, and thinking, "I can't wait until I am in their shoes". And now, we are, and it feels GREAT.

For those wondering, we still haven't made a for sure decision on where we are headed to next, but we hope to do that soon.

And we should be putting our house up for sale like, tonight. Ok maybe not, maybe this weekend. We are beyond what you could call procrastinators, but hey, there was a possibility we would be staying here so we didn't want to sell our house and, "Oops! Sorry, we're gonna need our house back".

 So what have we been up to lately? Besides all the packing, cleaning, organizing, and anything else it takes to get your house ready to sell.

Well, for awhile it got really warm like 80 degrees for a few days and then on Tuesday it went from 80 to 30 degrees over night.

Here we are one day enjoying the sun:

Then we wake up to this!

As for another random fact in our lives, I've gained five pounds. I hate to say that, but maybe it will motivate me to work out and I know a lot of you have good tips and tricks on how to get fit, lose some weight, and be healthy!

Since having Jacob I had been at a constant weight up {which I was really happy with, I went 11 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight, don't ask me how, because I really don't know how it happened} until about 3 or so weeks ago, I gained like 5 lbs. I don't know what happened! Ok, maybe I do, it may have something to do with the nightly ritual of a serving of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. But, I've been *trying* to stop that and go running. I hate not having a gym pass. What do you do with out the gym? At-home work out videos just don't do it for me. And I do enjoy running outside, but not as much as the gym. I miss the gym, but I can't start any contracts until after we move. SO... help! I need a running buddy, or a good healthy snack you like, or any other secret tips. Come on, tell me what you got. :)

I've been good though, I mean rain or snow or shine, I try to go out for a run/jog/walk everyday. Ice on the ground yesterday? That didn't stop me. Ok, maybe it didn't stop me for about 10 mins and then I came back in...but still.

 When it's warm I have no problem going out to run

 It's the freezing, windy, cold days that are the hardest

And let me tell ya, pushin these two is NOT easy!

So what else, what else do you say to do besides running? And of course, the obvious, eating healthy. :)

Well everyone, my next post may or may not be in a new home somewhere else closer west to our families {keeping my fingers crossed :)} until then, We DID IT!..almost.

Growing Up!

Just the other day I woke up and looked at Jacob and thought, "He seems to have changed over night, he looks older today!" It's crazy how fast kids grow. Thank goodness for pictures right? For me, and the kids to look back on and reminisce.

 Jacob {13 almost 14 mos}

  Katelyn {3 yrs. old}

 Katelyn {3} Jacob {13 mos}

I know a lot of you are photographers out there, so tell me... How do you get both kids to sit and smile at the camera at the same time? I swear I have never caught them both smiling together. It's either Katelyn is smiling and Jacob is not, or Jacob is smiling and Katelyn is not. Or Jacob just randomly gets up and walks away. I may have to try this when daddy is home, he's sure to get a smile out of both of them.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

I just ordered Jacob's book of his first year. I can't wait to get it, he has been such a joy in our lives this past year!! :)

What's New?

Happy Valentine's day!
Remember you are always loved :)

Life has been busy. We are looking for a job, getting our house ready to sell, trying to figure out where to live. It's all just closing in on us so fast. I can't believe it.

The little ones are doing great! They make me so happy. Lately I've just felt like 99.9 percent of my day is pure joy {pretty sure I could say 100% because of them, but sometimes I have to do the dishes or something and I get a little heartbroken ;)}. I hardly ever find myself frustrated at them or upset. We have such a great routine, they both are angels, and they just keep me laughing and happy. So life is great.

Nick is working hard in school. Working hard at finding a good job. Finishing up all of his last requirements. Being a dad. Doing housework so we can sell our house. He's just great!

I really am so excited to begin this new chapter in our life. I don't know quite what to expect, but right now I'm just excited.

Here are some pictures of the kids. Katelyn and Jacob adore each other. And I'm so happy that they get along and play so well together. It sure makes me, as a mom, so happy. 

Birthday Time! Katelyn is THREE & Jacob is ONE

My kids have their birthdays three days apart. Katelyn on December 30th and Jacob's on January 2nd. I thought it would be fun to throw them a combined birthday party this year, and so we did. It did turn out super fun and I'm glad the kids enjoyed this with their friends here in Oklahoma since we will be leaving soon. 

It was a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse birthday bash!

 Birthday boy.. So big! I can't believe he's ONE.

 Party bags

 The FOOD. Pizza & hot dogs with other side items.

 Colorful cupcakes! I wish I could say I made these.. I did make the toppers but not the cupcakes ;)

 I did, however, make the Minnie mouse pinata. It was super easy, I followed a tutorial I found on Pinterest.

 Katelyn & Jacob eating with their friends!

 

 Birthday Girl! I really can't believe she is THREE! In primary and everything. They grow way to fast.

 The whole group

 Big girl

 Never looks at the camera :)

 Birthday boy! His shirt before he got it smothered in blue cupcake frosting.

 Katelyn going after the pinata

 Blake going after the pinata

 Hannah attempting to hit it

 

 Chasing after the candy once we finally got it out of the pinata

 Excited about his cupcake

 "Just give it to me!"

 mmmm....

 He didn't hesitate one bit to get that thing in his mouth.. or should I say all over his face?

 And he ate it all up...

 Where's another?

 Katelyn eating her cupcake

 She didn't get it quite all over her face like Jacob

 Opening gifts

 So glad for the great friends we have made here in Oklahoma.. I'm sure going to miss it, but that's another long, sad, sob post for the future.

 

 With my kiddos on the day of the party. I couldn't be a prouder mom. They are our little angels. Nick and I have enjoyed being their mom and dad and helping them celebrate the little & big things in life. They are the best babies we could ask for. 

Happy birthday Katelyn & Jacob!!