Bear Lake

We went to Bear Lake on our way (sort of) back to Missouri. It is always so beautiful and peaceful there, even if the water is a little chilly. Isaac had a blast there and James hated it (if his sleeping habits have anything to do with likes/dislikes). Everyone bailed on the trip (Blake's whole family was supposed to come) but we were happy that my sister spent the night with us in between bike races. We watched her as she passed the cabin on her second race. Watch out, here comes IronmANNE!

Our trip to Utah

We spent a LOOONG time in Utah. I'm still trying to decide if it was too long, too short, or just right. Was it long enough that it makes us glad to back in our own place alone? Was it long enough that it just made it really hard to leave again? Did we get sick of everyone? Did they get sick of us? Who knows. It was a fun trip and yet it is nice to be home again. Here's what we did:

I had a birthday with an awesome white cake. Gloriously, though, this very week I started eating chocolate again and James has slept 6 hour stretches both nights so hooray! Now I can eat chocolate again, just in time for me to be back home without chocolate treats everywhere I turn. (It was good weight control, though, because I actually lost weight this trip to Utah.)

I had a good helper to open presents, though he wasn't as thrilled with the gifts as I was.

We celebrated twice.

We went to the park on the days that were fine (and few and far between).

Isaac grew very attached to both grandmas and did everything with them. Like they would have to hold up his peanut butter sandwich for him to eat.

Classic James face--"What are you making me sit here for?"
Then it was Easter. We got to dye eggs.

And our fingers.

Then we got to search for the eggs with all our cousins. I looked for all the starburst and let Isaac have the chocolate eggs. Isaac was very obedient and only ate the candy when we told him he could have a piece. For a full month, the candy was in a basket, then in his recycle truck, then in a sand bucket, then in a bag, then back in the recycle truck, etc. Slowly diminishing piece by piece. When his cousin Eli came over a week after Easter, he points excitedly to the candy in Isaac's truck: "Look, candy!" Isaac's like--oh yeah, it's been there forever.

Somehow all the kids magically wore red/orange (except Kate).

Poor James was sleeping during the hunt.

Then we hunted again with the other side. Isaac did a good job finding all his blue eggs and James' orange eggs.

Oh, how I love this smiley boy! He is so sweet!

We celebrated Blake's birthday once

twice

three times. This was the first time in four years or so the triplets were all together for their birthday. Isn't it so sad they never get their own cake?

Isaac occasionally gave into sleep at Grandma K's house.

It snowed. More than once. This was May 3.

James and Isaac are such good pals. Fingers crossed it will always be like this. I love this picture because I swear James is almost as big as Isaac!

Blake played a lot of basketball, mostly waking up early on Fridays to play with his brother and Dad.

He played once with my handsome younger brother who is currently single...

And it got warm! Just in time for us to pack up our car and drive the miserable 20 hours back to Missouri. But this time Grandma Karen and Grandpa Kent drove with us and loved to have Isaac in their car. They played with stickers and read books and watched "The Little Engine that Could" twenty times. James was able to nap a little better in the car since the noise maker was gone. He also is older and more interested in toys so overall the drive went much much better than it did two months prior.

Bye Utah! Bye family! Come visit us!

P.S. Oh yeah, and a shout out to my awesome brother Chris, who surprised me by flying in from London to surprise me for my birthday. Umm, how awesome is that? Didn't get a picture, sadly, but he is just as handsome and single as my other brother up there.

Match Day

Sorry, I hate having to play catch-up, but I want this to be in "our story", so I am posting about the event that happened three months ago. Several days before match, we woke up to this outside our window:
We were so glad we had an apartment ready to move into the day after match to escape the noisy (and smelly!) tuckpointing happening at our building.

Here we are, walking to school on the big day--

This is a terrible picture, but the best I could do. Yay, we matched in St. Louis! Isaac made everyone laugh because he wanted to be with Daddy, but once he realized they were going to the stage, he buried his head and clung to him.


Sarah and I have been through a lot together. I remember vividly meeting her and Logan at the first mingle after the white coat ceremony and thinking, "What a cute girl. I hope we become good friends." And it happened! We've spent a lot of time together, the first year just playing games and eating as couples, and then later playing with our boys. We spent so many happy days at Sarah's apartment at the Hawthorne that when we went to their move last week and I saw their apartment boxed up, I couldn't help but burst into tears. I will miss Sarah and Jessica and Ann and all of my other Lindell ward friends that are moving or are even still there but we have moved out to a different area.
Isaac and Callum enjoying match day their way.
James could be happy anywhere! Such a smiley baby.

We spent the rest of the day packing because we moved the next day!

A poem

I've been looking through a lot of old family photos and things and came across this poem someone wrote about my Dad. It is such a clever poem, and describes the true event so you can SEE it happening, so I decided to share.

Yet Another Ode to Dr. Perry

by A. Davis

September 1986

Once again my voice I raise

To laud our Joe in rhyming phrase,

For Joe has shown us all his pluck

Is not confined to saving ducks.

It seems he finds himself distinguished

Concerning flames he late extinguished

So here is how the story goes,

Or so I’m told by one who knows.

“Twas once upon a stormy nite

When witnessed Joe an awesome sight—

Upon the neighbor’s roof a flash

Of mighty light and then, a crash

Joe stood in mute anticipation

Of some religious revelation

But when no angel reared its head,

And flames began to leap instead,

Our doctor came to understand

That matters he must take in hand;

By standing rooted in amazement

The house would be soon in ablazement

His silent lips became undone

And shouted “Dial 911!”

Rushed then Joe into the breach

With hose clenched tightly in his teeth

(The hose’s stream, when Joe took measure

Was somewhat short on water pressure

Requiring Joe to climb much higher—

Up on the roof—to douse the fire.)

Joe bravely made the needed climb,

Arriving in the nick of time.

He made short work of putting out

The fire this poem is all about.

So when the pro’s came on the scene

Joe sat upon the roof serene

(The truth, however, in the matter—

He was waiting for the fireman’s ladder

For Joe, it seems, had sadly found

The real dilemma was getting down.)

So there he sat, with discretion and valor

And a little soot to hide the pallor

But yet a hero, be it said;

Where Joe rushed in, no angel tread.

6 months

James is 6 months this weekend. He started eating rice a week or so ago and some days loves it and some days not. He is sleeping a little better for us and he is the life of the party at Grandma's house! He can find anyone smiling at him and will smile back. Such a people person. Pictures in grandma's backyard...




And some of Isaac to be fair...

Well, Blake had a mid-life (or mid-twenties) crisis after match day and decided he didn't want to do neurology after all. He now really wants to do dermatology.

So we had to turn down our spot in St. Louis and find whatever we could to do derm. Fortunately, he found a spot--but it's in Puerto Rico. And they don't pay their residents. But at least Blake will be doing what he wants to do.

We found some affordable housing right on the beach!

Let's pray there's no big storms.

I'm going to go start learning Spanish.