A LITTLE LATE...

...but surely blog worthy! On August 11 Wyatt started his very first day of Pre-school! Thanks to my sister-in-law, Janet, we were able to find a great place to go to. It's called Academic Accolades...and Greta Sue Figueroa is the awesome teacher! Jared and I got to meet her and her assistant, Sheri, a couple days before school, and I was really impressed with both ladies. Wyatt is such a "people person" and a very smart little guy, so I knew he would really enjoy going to pre-school, and fter he got to meet Miss Greta I knew he would have a great time! He did give me a hard time on the way to meet her. He kept telling me, "Miss Greta is naughty." But as soon as I mentioned that she had play-dough and puzzles, he told me that he wanted to go see Miss Greta.

I was really excited for his first day of school and we got to the classroom early enough so that I could take some pictures and hang around for awhile. Right away Miss Greta read the kids a book, and after that Wyatt didn't even care that I was there. I didn't think that I would get emotional (he's only gone 3 days a week for 2 hours!), but I did feel a little sad. My baby is growing up, and although this is a small step, it is a STEP! The next step is kindergarten, and then elementary school ALL DAY! I realize that even though I am still teaching him at home, he is now around other people that are teaching him also. Have I taught him well up until now? Wyatt's first day of pre-school was perfect, and he told me that he wanted to go back the next day! Yeah!

THE NOSE
Here's a little lesson for everyone...courtesy of Wyatt.

This

+

=

AND

**The doctor didn't think it was broken, and now 3 weeks later it looks much better.

CALIFORNIA 2008

NEWPORT BEACH What a fun and fast trip! Although we were exhausted when we got back, we were so glad we went. The best part about the trip was that my brother and 2 sisters came! The last time we were all together for a vacation was 2 years ago! Next up, Hawaii...without kids. Jared and I decided to fly out with the boys Thursday morning and they both did great! It was fun watchng Wyatt roll his little Spider Man suitcase through the airport. He was really excited about flying and kept asking me, "Are we flying?" I was afraid the flight attendant might get annoyed with us and kick us off the plane. Towards the end of the flight Jared let Wyatt use his I-pod, and he listened to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang over and over. Luke actually "sat" on my lap like he was supposed to and didn't make a sound! He was really interested in looking out the window. The flight there couldn't have gone any better (of course it is just an hour 15 min. flight...still I was very proud). Right after we arrived we rented a car (Jared upgraded to the Lincoln Town car---you know, the car that looks like a boat. Wyatt was crying and didn't want to get in it) and headed to the beach house my sisters were staying in, changed into our suits, and went to the beach! The boys L-O-V-E-D the beach!! Wyatt was ever so excited to see his cousin Abbey and right away they had me and Connie chasing them down the beach. I enjoyed watching Luke run around. He has a great big pot belly that he sticks out, and to make it even better he lets his arms swing freely when he runs. He was very entertaining. That night we all gathered (my brother, Cam, and his wife Jenny and Johnny, a friend of Carrie's arrived just in time) for dinner at a family fav., The Old Spaghetti Factory, to celebrate Carrie's (which was that day) and Cam's b-days. It was really late by the time we got seated, and the kids were tired, but it was still delicous! Friday we spent all day at Disneyland. Whew! It was hot, but that didn't stop us from having fun. Wyatt was a pro this time and didn't cry on any rides. The adults had fun riding Space Mountain...FUN! Saturday was another fun filled day at the beach. Jared spent most of the day boogie boarding and even got me to get out in the COLD water for a little bit. The lifeguards were busy saving lots of people from the rip tides, but thankfully not any of us. That night we all gathered together again for dinner at Claim Jumper. Either I was really hungry, or that was by far the best place I have been to eat in awhile...or both. All I know is that it was goo-ood food. Before we knew it Sunday came and we flew home. Our flight was delayed an hour so we hung out at the airport for awhile, but with kids it felt like an eternity. I was a little worried this time that the boys would be tired and cranky, but not so. Jared and I both neglected to remember where we parked at the airport, but Jared found the car no probem...see, things couldn't have been any better!

Johnny and Carrie

Me and Luke waiting for dinnerAt Disneyland-My brother Cam and his wife Jenny (with Stella), and my sister Connie

I couldn't get Wyatt to sit still

Luke's run

At the airport on the way home

10 YEARS!

Earlier this month we drove up to Pinetop for my 10 year high school reunion. I was especially excited to get out of the heat and enjoy the cool pines, and that's exactly what we did. The reunion started Saturday with a family picnic during the day, and then Jared and I got to go eat without kids that night. The best part about the reunion for me was seeing everyone all grown up and running after little kids of their own, and it was interesting finding out what people have been up to. Jared really enjoyed getting to know the Christine he never knew. I think the best part of the day for him was when we took a tour of the school. He had fun taking lots of pictures. Most everybody looked the same, except me. My hair used to be really curly, but having children has changed my hair and so it's not as curly anymore. I usually wear it straight, but I wondered if some would have trouble recognizing me. Sure enough, I said hi to an old classmate, he shook my hand and said, "Nice to meet you." I laughed and told him who I was and he said he didn't recognize me with straight hair! Saturday night we had the privledge of staying with Jared's sister, Jenny + Family in Taylor, and then Sunday we went to church and had a great time visiting with the Shumway family! Thank you Don and Jenny for watching the boys and for always having a place ready for us. We love you! Here's to 10 years!

Wyatt's nose is another story...coming soon.

'98 Homecoming King and Queen

Jared's idea (this one's for you, Cam. This is the "senior slab") Our dinner table

CATCHING UP

4TH OF JULY---HEBER, AZ.

We celebrated the 4th at the cabin in Heber. The weather was great...there was even a hail storm, but thankfully it all cleared up right before the fireworks!
SUMMER FUN IN THE BACKYARD

Since it's been like 200 degrees here in AZ the boys have really enjoyed cooling off in the play pool in the backyard.

PORTLAND, OREGON

What a beautiful place! I felt so lucky to tag along with Jared to Portland while he attended a dental seminar Friday and Saturday. Again, the weather was perfect and the shopping was just divine. Jared was supposed to have classes all day Saturday too, but he ended up finishing early, so we walked around downtown and then headed to the Temple. It was a nice little trip.

UNBELIZABLE!

AMBERGRIS CAYE, BELIZE

JUNE 2008
The group

Me and my dive buddy

The bike ride of my life

That's me!

Our short plane ride from Belize City to Ambergris Caye

The dive shop
Handsome guy at the best pool ever!

Our first scuba trip seriously couldn't have been better...beautiful resort, great company, good food (whew!), nice weather (not too hot), and exciting scuba diving! I loved everything about our trip. Thanks Ladd, Janet, and Preston for inviting us!! I am hooked on scuba diving. It is the coolest thing to be able to breathe underwater. I loved seeing all of the interesting fish and wasn't even scared to hold sharks and see eels. The last night we were there we all decided to go on a night dive. That was the only time I felt scared. I didn't appreciate the very large sting rays hiding under the sand, or the barracuda following us. My light died before the end of the dive, but that didn't bother me. I was more comfortable not knowing what was around me. I'm not sure if I will ever night dive again, but if I do the visibility will have to be better (it was a little stormy when we were there) and I don't want any currents (I felt like I was going to get carried away, never to be found again). I was pretty impressed with the food, and even felt inclined to try crab, scallops, and grouper...and liked it! It was nice hanging out by the pool while drinking virgin pina coladas, playing Settlers, watching the footage (thanks to Ladd and his underwater camera) of our dives, reading, walking along the beach, taking the boat taxi to eat... Although we dove twice each day I felt totally relaxed...until "the" bike ride. Ladd, Preston, Jared, and I all decided to take a nice bike ride into town to look for some souvenir t-shirts. We followed 2 young local kids and the bike ride went on and on and on. Turns out town was a little farther than expected...and not an easy bike ride at all! We biked through deep sand, pot holes, tiny city streets...all on semi-flat tires. While in town we did find a delicious custard shop that made it all worth it. When we decided to head back it was getting dark and I was a little nervous because I knew there would be little light. But, somehow we all made it back unharmed and I'm pretty sure I was the sweatiest of all. The best part of the whole bike ride was before we even left our resort. Preston rode right into the ocean! He was riding fast to catch up to us and saw a sharp turn up ahead...thinking the brakes were on the handle bars he tried to slow down, but the brakes were on the pedals. It was great! He simply got himself and his bike out of the water all while a bunch of people on the dock and the rest of us were laughing hysterically! Good times, good times! Of course the trip wouldn't have been possible without my in-laws help. Jim and Ola Mae, thanks for watching the boys! Jared, thanks for a wonderful trip! Until next time...

Possibly the scariest picture of me...ever! Jared and I were trying to look tired (trying?) while we waited for our delayed flight (7 hours total)! Preston told me I looked like a meth addict...and Jared agreed. Thanks.