Ash splash in bath bath

One of Ashton's favorite things is water...he loves to pour water from cup to cup, splash in puddles, swim, bathe, if there is water he wants to be actively engaged in it. So here he is in his element!

Match Day

So for the past few weeks Tyler has gone out interviewing at different hospitals for residencies. He received the Health Professions Scholarship for the Air Force which means that the AF paid Tyler's way through medical school and included a living allowance and in return Tyler will work for the Air Force as an MD when he is through with his training for 4 years. Because of this agreement Tyler would have to apply for residency through the military which he did and ranked a deferred civilian residency as his number one choice (this is why he had set up and started interviewing for residencies at various programs. Tyler had done REALLY well on his Step 1 USMLE (United States Medical Licensure Exam?) and thought he would get his number one choice being a deferred residency rather than a military residency. So when Military Match day came we were shocked to find out that he hadn't gotten his number one choice, canceling all remaining cilivilian interviews and match, and that our little family would be packing up and moving to San Antonio Texas for him to begin his intern year in General Surgery. To be honest it was a HUGE blow. He had become so excited at the many great residency programs he had interviewed at. It took several weeks to adjust to the idea of a military residency. It was really hard for me to see Tyler's disappointment and feelings of failure. It was hard to see the good in this. But finally the disappointment is gone and we are very excited for what life will bring to us in San Antonio. It helps to remember that God is at the reigns. He knows what is best for our family and for a reason unkown to us, San Antonio is where we need to be. It helps to also remember that we LOVE San Antonio. We were there a few years ago for one of Tyler's Air Force trainings and while we were there we visited that awesome Zoo, the River Walk, and Sea World. Plus there is a temple there and it's only an hour and a half away from Gabe and his family! So we are now excited and looking forward to our adventure. After all, the experience is what you make it!

Christmas 2008

This year we spent Christmas in Colorado with the Rust family. We actually got to celebrate it twice because most of Tyler's brothers weren't able to make it on Christmas day....The original plan was to postpone Christmas a few days, but then we got to excited and decided to celebrate twice.
On Christmas Eve Tyler played some Christmas carols on the piano while the family sang. That is one of my most favorite traditions! We then let Ashton and Isaac put on the their Christmas jammies and Ash got to open one present. He was so excited and couldn't stop screaming ELMO!!!

The following morning we ate Christmas rolls and opened more gifts. Ashton loved his piano! He gets into it and will jump up and down on the seat while he plays the keys and jams to the music. It is great!

Horrah in Houston

We took our first trip with the boys this last week. Tyler was starting the interview process for residencies and so we packed our bags and headed for Texas. Our journey started in Dallas where Tyler interviewed at Baylor and UT Southwestern. The interviews went well and he was impressed with both programs. We then headed to Austin to spend a few days with my brother Gabe, my sister-in-law, Becca, and their two kids Ashlee and Ben. It was so fun to see and spend time with them. Their kids are SOOOO cute and we took advantage of the great weather and packed the kids in bike trailers and rode to two different parks, one of which we fed the ducks at. It was a ton of fun. The traveling and change of locations wore on Ashton and although he was pretty clingy to me he had a great time running around and playing with Ashlee. He also loved how cuddley Ben was. It was so fun to be with family and we sure hope Tyler does residency near them!

Gabe

Ashlee

Duck Feeding

Me and my boy

Christmas Suprise

The last leg of the trip took us to Houston for Tyler's last interview (Baylore again) where we were able to stay with our best friends from St. Louis, Jamin and Kimra Barber and their sweet girl Emerson. They moved over the summer and did it ever feel good to see them! There's nothing like good conversation with great friends that you know you will have for life. We sure love you guys!!!
The trip ended there and I headed of to Colorado with the boys and Tyler went back to St. Louis where he will finish up his last rotation and a few more interviews. We can't wait for him to join us here at the end of next week!

Photo Shoot

Thanks to Emily, a wonderful photographer, we have some wonderful newborn and family pictures that I will forever treasure. These pictures were taken when Isaac was only 2 1/2 weeks old and I'm so happy that we will have these amazing pictures to remember the newness by. The following are some of my favorites and you can click here to view the rest of our pictures!