Actually got up early and exercised. The kids are still asleep. Jeff is off to work. All is quiet. I don't think the house has ever been this quiet. We are enjoying Utah and being back in Utah with family close by. I was a bit nervous about how that would all go. Our family has been very independent the last 10 years. It was very good for Jeff and I. We depended on each other to make ends meet in everything. I wouldn't trade that for anything. It is nice however now to have the boys ask if they can go to grandma's and be able to say 'yes' instead of answering 'we'll see grandma (or who ever) in 3 months'. I am loving my home and neighborhood. I turn into the neighborhood and take a deep breath. It feels like home-- peaceful. The boys started school, but are already off track with year round school. So this break is actually our summer. It is nice to relax. We have swim lessons, cub scouts, and are starting piano and riding lessons. We bought a horse property. I want the boys to be comfortable around horses. Oliver is mucking stalls for a little job. He loves that he has a little job and gets paid. I'll stop my rambling now.

19 states later

WOW!!! Jeff, the boys and I have been in 19 different states in the last month. We moved from Syracuse, NY to South Jordan, UT. We left June 27 and arrived July 9. We made a real road trip out of it. We had a great time seeing some amazing places and visiting with wonderful friends. Our stops along the way were: Washington DC, Jamestown, Yorktown, Virginia Beach, VA; Kitty Hawk, NC; Charleston, SC; Savannah, GA; Augusta, GA; Atlanta, GA; Nashville, TN; Santa Clause, IN; St. Louis, MO; Kansas City, MO; Denver, CO; and South Jordan, UT. There were some great highlights during the 12 days in the car. I'll try and post more about all the fun.

After arriving we waited a week for our stuff to arrive, had a week to start unloading, Seth turned 7, then we left for another 10 days of vacation. This time we went to Island Park, ID and Yellowstone for a weekend with Jeff's family. After that we went to Lake Powell on the Utah Arizona border with my fam. We got back Saturday night and Monday Jeff started work while Oliver, Bry and Seth started school. They go to year round school. It has been a whirl wind summer. I am looking forward to settling down in a routine. We had a great time this summer. I am sure that it will not be equaled.



We hit DC right at the beginning of the heat wave. The boys were wiped out. This is not a posed shot.

This is a favorite picture of mine in Jamestown, VA-- the first English Settlement in North America

Charleston, SC. Fort Sumter in the back ground.

Aboard the USS Yorktown a retired air craft carrior. Very cool!

By the Savannah Cotton Exchange. Savannah was my favorite city to visit.

Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith was kept for 4 months on bogus charges, then let go.

Seth pulls a silly face on his birthday.

Floating the river in Yellowstone.

Lake Powell tubing

ENT Graduation

June 11 was an amazing day. Jeff had his official ENT Graduation dinner. The night begins with drinks and appetizers, followed by dinner and a program. Dr. Kellman talks about each graduate to congratulate them. He likes to read from the opening essay from when they applied to residencey. Jeff's essay echoed what he is today and actually received a spontaneous round of applause. Dr. Kellman gives the certificate to me to pass along to Jeff. It is the departments way of saying thank you for supporting the resident. Jeff then got to say a few words. He still has to finish out this month, but he has his certificate. WOW!!! This is the end of Jeff's educational goals that he has been working on for the entire time I have know Jeff-- even before we were married. He has always wanted to be a physician. He didn't always know that he wanted to be an ENT. For a long time when he was asked what kind of doctor he wanted to be he'd say, "A good one." Now we are heading back West for Jeff to join a private practice in South Jordan, UT. I just want to say that I am proud of Jeff for the amazing amount of hard work and many long hours he has put in. I love you and am very proud of you.



Jeff, Spencer and Tucker-- The graduates.

Jeff and Dr. Kellman, his department chair.

A shot of Jeff and I

The boys came for the first hour during drinks and appetizers. It was a perfect way for the boys to feel the importance of the night, but not be overwhelmed with 3 hours of being perfect. Thanks Bruce for taking them to Doug and Connie's.

Memorial Day

We had a grand time on Memorial Day. Darleys invited us to their "home". They are staying there for a month before they move to Florida. Anyway we had a fabulous time. Dane couldn't go in the water, but had a good time watching. Oliver caught a fish with the help of Lou. You can tell he was a little bit excited. Seth loved chilling in the hammock. Bry and Alex loved the water. Who can complain about good food, good friends and wonderful weather?

A lot of hot air

Oliver and Bryant had their rain gutter regatta race for cub scouts. I was happy that the boats were put together. They were very simple. But it appears that simple is best because Bry took first place in the Bear pack and Oliver took second place in the Webelos. Both boys got trophies and were thrilled. They push the boat by blowing through a straw. I always knew my boys had a lot of hot air, now I have proof.

Relearning

Dane is learning to walk again after breaking his leg. I was getting a bit nervous because it took him several days to even try and walk on it. But once he did it was just like when he learned to walk. He is very happy and doesn't really complain. The cutest thing he says is holding his arms up, "Hold you mama. Hold you mama." when he wants to be picked up. If he'd continued doing the army crawl I think I would have lost it. Now however he is climbing onto the tramp and jumping with his cast on. I'll try and get a shot of that one too.

yankee doodle

At Seth's school they have Monday Program. It is a weekly assembly to sing happy birthday, recognize the stars of the week, sing the school song and so forth. It is very community oriented and quite cute. Throughout the year each class takes a turn giving a program. May 24th the kindergarten classes all preformed with an American theme. Here is one of the songs they sung. Seth is standing and has on a red Mickey Mouse shirt.