Today

I believe that the happenings of today are blog worthy because... it was an eventful day.
Last night, Kyle woke up complaining of a tummy ache. Poor guy. After some loving, he fell asleep on the living room floor. I put a pillow and blanket with him and gratefully sunk back into bed to catch a few more zzz's before waking Jace up for school. Later, in the chaos of making Jace's favorite Malt o Meal breakfast, getting him off for school, getting Lance ready, or rather, reminding Lance of the things he needs to do to be ready for preschool, I didn't pay a lot of attention to Kyle's lone bowl of Malt o Meal at his place. After dropping Lance off at preschool, Kyle, Cami, and I headed back to pick up Jared, who had just had his haircut (ya! We have the most awesome hair dresser that does hair cuts at 8am! Exclusively during interview season. He looked great, thanks, Jen!). We headed to the airport to drop Jared off. Tomorrow, Jared will have his first residency interview in Iowa City, Iowa. Exciting! I wanted to get a picture of him because he looked so cute in his travel clothes: the Aloha shirt he bought while we were in Hawaii, and jeans, but... he said no. The camera was in the house anyway, and we were trying to get going. But Oh! It would have been so cute!
So Jared was driving because... we both do better when he drives. We were almost there when suddenly we heard Kyle make a strange projectile sound. I grabbed a diaper and made it just in time! Diapers are amazing. Caught it all. He didn't have much in his tummy, but poor little guy! I'm just grateful that it happened while Jared was driving and not on my way home.
A few diapers later (used for their original purpose) we were outside. I was trying to get on my way to pick up Lance. The small pain in my neck that I had noticed this morning had increased (I think I pulled a muscle), and, have you ever tried to hurry your small children, while, at the same time, not turning your head? Ugh, that just slows me down! Kyle had pooped again, and after changing him, I was headed to the car with Cami and Kyle. Thank goodness for friends outside that helped me get myself together!
I tried to put Cami in her carseat, but she would have nothing to do with that. Then I realized she had a messy diaper. Somehow, I got to Lance's preschool with two clean bums and a stiff neck. His preschool teachers are awesome and very sweet and forgiving. I'm going to write about them in another post. Lance had a great day and was ready for some good reading time. (He has decided that he loves reading because he wants to have a good brain. In the evenings, he loves to bring a pile of books to the living room for us to read and read.)
So we were back home, getting out of the van when I heard a yelp from the other side of the van. The automatic door on our van had closed onto the tip of Lance's finger. He was standing there, stuck to the van. I rushed to open the door. After tears and hugs, I asked him what he was doing. He said he wanted to try and make the door open again while it was closing. (It does that sometimes when pushed hard enough as a safety feature, only this time, not.) A sore finger later, we learned that trying to open the door while it is closing is not the greatest idea. Safety features are there for accidents, not experiments. (No hospital trips allowed when Jared is gone-seriously, it was fine).
Meanwhile, Kyle had a few more nausea spells and messy diapers, and Cami, just messy diapers. I felt like I was constantly marching to and from the garbage outside. Isn't that the definition of insanity? The result remained the same until finally, Kyle was resting in his bed. He continued the nausea after naps and into bedtime. I moved his mattress to the living room so that I can get to him faster (His bedroom is at the end of a very long, sometimes too long, hallway)
So Kyle has had no fever, just 24 hour flu symptoms, and Cami the same, but without the nausea, just diapers. Hopefully things will look up for both of them tomorrow, and no one else gets it.
Then I got a phone call from a euphoric Jared. He had a great time tonight at the informal dinner put on by the residency program. He got along really well with the other residents and things just seemed to click. The schools there are really good, which was one of my questions for the kids. Anyway, there was a lot of things in common with Jared and some of the other residents there, and the program there is really good. Iowa might be a top choice. We'll just have to see. I am grateful for that phone call because it was then that I remembered that exciting things are happening for us, and I need to stay focused on the longer, more fun road.

Happy Halloween!

Turning a New Leaf

I did it. I was inspired by a friend's blog who makes beautiful scrapbook pages and simply blogs them. It just makes sense to me, so I'm going to give it a try. Thanks, Chay!
Here, I love how Cami's pink bow has nothing to do with anything else in the photo, it's just there! It caught my eye in the store, just the day before these photos. You can't see it, but some of the ribbon is pink camo. I didn't know I would be scrapping these photos, but she's so cute in them!

This is in Jared's parent's yard (10/12/09) while the boys are raking up the leaves. That's my next page in the works...

Five Months, Four Days

We're gonna start seeing more of this now. Aren't they sweet? Jared turned in his applications for residency a few weeks ago, and now we get to wait! Interviews begin in November, ending in December. We will get a letter in March stating where Jared has matched and where we will live for the next 4 years.

Jared applied at the following Obstetrics and Gynecology programs:

Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Program, Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix Integrated Residency Program, Phoenix, AZ

University of Arizona Program, Tucson, AZ

University of California (Irvine) Program, Orange, CA

University of California (San Diego), San Diego, CA

University of Colorado Program, Aurora, CO

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Program, Iowa City, IA

Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education (Rochester) Program, Rochester, MN

Twin Cities Integrated Residency Program, Minneapolis, MN

St Louis University Group of Hospitals Program, St Louis, MO

Washington University School of Medicine Program, St Louis, MO

Mountain Area Health Education Center Program, Asheville, NC

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Program, Winston-Salem, NC

Creighton University Program, Omaha, NE

University of Nebraska Program, Omaha, NE

University of New Mexico Program, Albuquerque, NM

Ohio State University Program/Mt. Carmel Health Program, Columbus, OH

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Program, Oklahoma City, OK

Oregon Health & Science University Residency Program, Portland, OR

University of Utah Program, Salt Lake City, UT

University of Washington Program, Seattle, WA

Medical College of Wisconsin Program, Milwaukee, WI

University of Wisconsin (Madison) Program, Madison, WI

Although we would love to stay in Utah close to our family and friends here, there are some great things that could happen if we expanded our horizons :) So far, he has an interview in St. Louis, Omaha, and here at the U of U.

Jace's thoughts about St. Louis, MO: "We should go to Missouri. That's where Adam-Ondi-Ahman is." I'm glad that Jace is opening his mind to the prospects of living in a different state. He'll be starting 5th grade wherever we go, and Lance, Kindergarten.

There is a doctor in Omaha that teaches surgical techniques that Jared is particularly interested in. This doctor presented a Fertility Surgical Conference in Italy during Jared's 2nd year. Jared met him while he was there presenting his research on Clomid, a fertility drug.

After interviews, both the residency programs and Jared make a rank list stating their top choices. The NRMP (National Resident Matching Program) then comes up with a "match". On Match Day we will enjoy a luncheon with Jared's class where we will open an envelope that contains the match results. Match Day is on March 18th, 2010. But who's counting?

The Day is Done...

This little Daddy's Girl is calling it a day. It was so cute. I didn't think she would seriously go into a deep sleep when I lay her on the floor in our living room, but there it is.

All Aboard!

All Aboard...

Kyle turned 3 years old today!

Departure Time: 12 o'clock noon

Station: Playground outside

I can't believe my baby boy is 3 years old. This is just after he opened his Thomas the Train costume from Mom and Dad. What would every loving parent give for this smile?

I am ecstatic that he had so many friends that were able to come! They had so much fun together! They put on their conductor hats and prepared for the train ride -- Provided by, themselves.

Full steam ahead! My heart melted at the sound of Kyle's laugh.
Red Light, Green Light! (I like Jared's action, capturing the video with Cami in tow.)Kyle laughed so much during this one. It was so much fun until, between a red light and green light transition, he was bumped and fell to the ground. First things first, in tears, he quickly grabbed his little toy Thomas the Train that had been in his tight grasp just before. Good thing the train was alright.

I took this photo before the party. Kyle is "ooing and ahhing" at his cake. He couldn't wait to pull that train off.

Make a Wish!

Yumm.

The air was crisp, the sun was warm, and it was the perfect day for a party. Kyle seemed quite pleased with the day. Later, we had a little family party and he opened the rest of his family gifts and watched the videos of his and Lance's birthdays. He was exhausted. His choo choo's were running out. Once I got him in bed, however, he was so excited that he kept getting up. (Maybe too much sugar?). After I told him the costume would have to come off next time he's up, he was fast asleep, costume and all. With his little train close by. Ah! It was a great day.

What would I give for this smile? Anything in the world.

A New Day!

Cami slept through the night for the first time in a very long time. I felt like a new woman, and she seemed quite happy to see the morning as well. Hopefully this continues. We're staying at the cabin this weekend for General Conference, so we'll see...

... Speaking of General Conference, for the last 2 days of preschool when we're getting ready to go, Lance has requested, "I want my hair like the prophet's hair." So we tried to comb it straight back like President Monsen's hair, but this is what we got.

Lance was pleased with it, and truly believes that his hair is "like the prophet's hair."

We Are a Happy Family

We had a photo shoot of Jared's side of the family at the cabin, done by a family friend, and the results are in:

Don't everybody smile at once! Okay, you can...

What are the odds of having a grandaughter? If you are Jared's parents, the chances are 1 in 11.

Just tell them not to laugh! That usually works.

I love this one of Kyle. His personality shines through in these photos!

Camille, always smiling when there is a camera in sight, is 8 months today!

Now you see us.... Now you don't!

First Day of Preschool... This Year

Lance's birthday is seven days after the deadline for kindergarten. So he's going to preschool... again :) I was bummed about that at first, but now Lance and I are quite excited about the idea of him being the oldest in his class!
Here he is just before going out the door. He specifically wanted "Spikey Hair".

As well as missing his buddy at home, Kyle wants so bad to be a part of this preschool experience! Today, when we went to pick up Lance, Kyle put on a backpack that was huge on him and made him look kind of like Chicken Little. I'll have to remember to get a picture of him if he does it again tomorrow. It was too cute.

Cheesin' for one of his preschool teachers.

Kyle and Lance coming home after the first day. It was great! Lance was named the "Monkey Bar King". He was the only one in his whole class that could get across by himself. He even did it backwards! (Showoff! Like his Mom!)

(Note: He wanted to stand in front of these "blue mountains" instead of the regular colored ones)

Motherhood Memories

I have got to get this down so that I don't forget some of the excitement involved in my motherhood.

Today, I found Lance in the bathroom aiming his mouth at a splattered mirror above his head and spitting at it. My reaction wasn't one I would like to write about or even remember, but then I turned around (seriously, I just turned around!) to find Kyle standing by the toilet, taking his own poop-filled diaper off!

This might make more sense after an explanation. Lance tried to explain to me that he was just trying to see what color his spit is. That's all! He wasn't even trying to spit on the mirror, just curious as to what color the stuff in his mouth is. And Kyle was obviously trying to fix his problem.
At that moment, the last thing in my mind was to laugh. I could smell an urgent need in the direction of Kyle. But tonight, as I looked back on it, I had to chuckle. What are the chances of two children doing such disgusting things at the same time? Oh, I wish I could remember to laugh!

"Atchoo!"

This morning at breakfast Lance told me, "I was atchooing a lot in my bed last night."

Poor little man!

What's Obama Gonna Do?

This morning, I was talking to Jace about the speech that Obama was going to give today to children in classrooms across the nation, kindergarteners through seniors in high school. I was actually excited for Jace to hear it. I read it beforehand and thought it was inspirational.
Lance overheard us talking about it and asked innocently,
"Is he gonna tell the kids to smoke?"
Let's hope not!

Cami's Clown

I was making dinner tonight when I heard the sounds of wonderful, loud laughter, and I turned around to see this sight:

Ah! Music to my ears!

Pink

I love pink. She was being so cute today, I had to grab my camera...

Oh, just look at this face!

Cami and Kyle discovering their musical talents

Mommy's helper - Watch for the bubble at the end...

Peek a Boo!

Could she be more pleased with herself? She just mastered this skill - one handed!

Photo compliments of Lance

Hey! We match! I love this girl!

Gotta Have It In Camo

Ya, they even make surgery caps in Camo. They come in green as well.

First Day of School

Waiting at the bus stop in his camo jacket ($3 at a thrift shop!) and matching camo shoes (don't remember price at store). This boy is stylin' and doesn't even know it.

Waiting...

Still waiting ...

Wait! I'm not ready yet! That was too quick!

At least he turned to look when I called his name. Oh, well. There goes my Fourth Grader. *sniff* sniff*

What I Will Miss About Summer...

Aaah, what a summer. And Jace begins school tomorrow. But first, I want to reminisce about the happenings I will miss from our summer '09.

...I think she's reminiscing, too...

...Being "Bear-Laken' Ready" for summer!

Good times with good friends...

Friends in Jared's class enjoying the cabin with us...

Good laughs...

Good Fishin'

...Sweetness...

Silliness...

Weee!

We got to visit the Draper and Oquirrh Mountain Temples during their open house. I am so grateful for such an opportunity and for grandparents that helped make it possible!

Mmm! Patriotic Fruit Pizza...

Jared took a break from his studies for the Step 2 Board Exam to enjoy a favorite tradition. He and his Dad are announcing at the Days of '47 Parade in Bountiful.

Zoo Days

Jace found this insect while at the zoo. Out of all the living things in the zoo, this seemed to be the most fascinating for him. He doesn't know what it is, so he took photos of it to further investigate.

This is "Mantee". Jace kept her as a pet for several days. His brothers helped him catch grasshoppers to feed it and were entertained by its eating habits.

Lagoon Days...

The Gateway Mall Fountains...

WATER: Jace and Lance got to take a swimming class together. At one point during a lesson, I saw Lance's face light up when he exclaimed in realization, "I can swim!"

I have concluded that my boys are all water kids just like me. Lance and Kyle had so much fun jumping off the edge at the shallow end. Jace has grown to love the diving board just like his Mom. Once he got the courage to make that first jump off, he was a natural. The second dive of his life was a forward tuck somersault (front flip). I was so proud! (He had done it on the trampoline before) I wanted to dive with him again so much on this last day in the water before school begins, but something happened that I will not miss about this summer...

I hit my toe on the bottom of the pool after jumping off the board 2 days previous. It was a little more shallow than I was expecting! It hurt a little but not like I would think it should have. My good friend, Sherrie (Thank you so much for watching my kids so I could do this!) told me to do some more cool stuff! Of course I had to. I was amazed that I could do it after so many years! I did an inward dive, reverse dive, and forward one-and-a-half somersault, pike. Woohoo! (I'm grateful that I did them without knowing that my toe had been broken, or I wouldn't have had the opportunity!) It's just a little chip of bone that needs to heal back on... 4-6 weeks and I'll be back on that board! I'll watch out for the bottom next time...

Jared's mom came and helped me at the pool after the toe incident. Why should the kids miss out? I couldn't have done it without her!

Jared's Dad helping me get the kids to bed. Jared's been gone insanely much.... it really has felt insane some of these days! He's completing his last week of a 4-week Sub-Internship at the U working hours like 5:30pm-7am. I won't miss this schedule. We just miss him and look forward to seeing him again soon...

Lance took this of Cami and I during a photo session. I will miss taking photos outside in the warm weather!

OTHERS I WILL MISS:

• Late nights - no hurry to get to bed on time...
• Relaxing mornings, no rush to hurry anywhere
• Picnics at the park
• Trips to the library and the excitement for the next prize from participating in their summer reading program
• Jace helping me at the grocery store: This is a big deal. It was SO much easier to go shopping with him! He helped with everything, keeping track of kids, pushing the grocery cart in the store and, after unloading, taking it back into the store while we wait in the car...

...AND FINALLY....

This is the photo that inspired this post. Today, I captured Jace as he read to Lance. I was cleaning the kitchen after lunch and asked Lance to pick out some books for us to read. Rather than sitting there with his books and waiting for Mom, Lance had this awesome brother come and read to him. Ah! What are we going to do with Jace gone? It has been fun to watch the children as their relationships grew closer during the summer. So sweet. This I will miss...