Firestation Fun

Because Ashton, Isaac and I know the firemen in the area (for more info see this post) I volunteered to host playgroup this week and scheduled a time with our firefighting friends to bring the kids to the fire station. The kids loved the huge red truck and tour of the station. They were even given their own fireman sticker badges. The best part was when the firemen turned on the flashing lights on the truck. As we were leaving the alarm sounded and we watched the big red truck speed away. We then came back to our house and made these cute fireman hats.

The fireman in the middle is one who helped with Ashton over the summer. The firemen over there call him the locksmith boy:)

Sporting his shiny sticker badge

New Moves

My baby Isaac is approaching his first birthday. I have to say he has been such an easy-going baby! So happy, laughy, and content. He has not been very motivated to stand, walk, or even cruise...crazy how different he and Ashton are. But regardless they love each other dearly. I absolutely LOVE to see the excitement on their little faces when they reunite after naps. Anyways, as of today, Isaac can officially pull himself up. He was standing in his crib after each nap and then I saw the move in action as we were playing this afternoon. He was having fun pushing buttons on the phone so I moved up onto the coffee table. His eyes were fixed on the phone as he grabbed onto the top of the table. He had to adjust his chubby feet twice before he was in a position to pull up, but he did it!!! We were so excited together....seeing your kids learn and grow...ah, what a good day!

apples and virtue

As part of my responsibilities in Young Womens I have the opportunity to teach lessons every other Sunday. This last Sunday was mine to teach and the topic was, "Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly" (from D&C 121:45). The lesson was basically a talk that Elder Packard gave back in the day and included an experience he had in which he had to help with the irrigation of his family's orchard. He was just a young boy and was having a difficult time because the irrigation channels had filled with weeds and the water was flooding in all directions. He tried building the banks up but then a wise friend helped most efficiently by removing the weeds. We likened the weeds to our thoughts and so I saw the perfect opportunity to make Bakerella's apple cake pops as part of the hand out. Because this is turning into a hobby of mine I thought I'd post a pic of the handouts...

Zoo pics

I realize I haven't posted anything since my birthday over 2 weeks ago...I'm not sure why, partly it's because I feel like not much has really happened, we are caught in the monotony of our routine and partly because I've been pretty busy. I got a new calling at church. I LOVE the way the church functions (getting an assignment to serve...can you believe how organized, efficient and functional the church is with NO PAID CLERGY!!! I mean common, there sure is a lot of dedication and love going on here!). Anyways, I am serving as the second counselor in the Young Women's Organization. It is a big change because the last ward we were in for 4 years didn't have any young women, but regardless, it is totally awesome. The young women here are amazing!!! So I've been busy teaching lessons, going to meetings and attending mutual, it's great!

And then this last weekend, on Tyler's weekend off we were asked to speak in church. We had great topics (daily scripture study and garnish thy thoughts with virture). So even though that occupied a lot of our weekend we managed to escape for a date. Here in San Antoni there are Alamo Drafthouse Theatres. It is FANTASTIC. The theatres have replaced every other row of seats for a long table so you can actually have a dinner at the movies! The wait staff was great and so was the food. Super FUN!!!

So, now that I actually sit down and think about it I guess a few things have happened. First and most importantly Tyler applied for Radiology residency. Things could work out to where this intern year in general surgery would count and then we would only have 4 more years.!!! We'll see. It was an extremely difficult decision. We were torn trying to decide between Surgery, the specialty that Tyler LOVES, he would be awesome at it, but it would require a lot more training (especially because he would want to specialize further) and a lot more time away from the family after residency, and Radiology. Radiology isn't something that Tyler is passionate about, but something that would okay and allow for a great family life after residency and he could specialize further and still get to do some OR procedures. We fasted, we prayed, we studied, we went to the temple and WE COULD NOT get a strong answer...It was frustrating. We even deliberated picking a specialty from a hat and calling it good. I felt especially hurt that we coudn't get a definitive answer as to what would be BEST for our family because they are quite different family life styles. We had a time limit so we picked Radiology for the family life and I struggled to find comfort in why we were left to decide for ourselves. I talked to Tyler and our parents and I couldn't find comfort in the way things went down. And then I talked to sweet Amanda her in San Antonio and she said something to me that just made sense. Obviously God let's us choose for ourselves often but WHY wouldn't it matter in this case. This was A HUGE decision for us!!! She said that God often only gives strong answers when the outcome effects our eternal salvation or would put us in harms way...So while we would have radically different family lives depending on Tyler's specialty we are left to decide for ourselves because either way our eternal salvation wouldn't depend on it...I know that God loves us and ultimately His plan is to get us back to Him and if anything, I'm glad to know that we are track.

Other events: Isaac started crawling! Super cute, he's quite mobile now and I think I need to upload a video soon. Ashton rode his first rollercoaster at Sea World...and had his first fire ant bite (so sad!)

Anyways, last week here was pretty glum...It rained almost everyday which really cramps our style because we go out a lot!! The sun broke free on Sunday and we have been go go go ever since! (We may have to chill out tomorrow though because we are pooped!) We made it out to zoo yesterday with some friends and while I didn't bring my camera yesterday, I realized that I didn't post the zoo pic from my birthday so here they are....

BE CAREFUL!!!

Ashton and I have a habit of drinking a caprisun on the porch while Isaac takes his first nap. Yesterday while we were out enjoying our juice Ashton got up from his chair and walked down to the sidewalk. He kept waking in direction of all the cars driving on the main road just 2 houses down. He informed me "gonna see cars" and kept going. I got up and started after him which only made his little feet move faster. He reached the main road before I caught up to him and I yelled, "ASHTON, BE CAREFUL!!!" At that point I was right behind him, he turned, looked up at me and stated "I'm being careful, I'm JUST WALKING!"....

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!

So, I pretty much LOVE birthdays. Tyler knows this and is always a little nervous because he thinks he isn't going to make me feel special when my Birthday comes around. This year Tyler has to work (from 5am to 6:30 pm) so when I got up this morning I had a special surprise. This is what I found when my kiddos got up.





Adorable huh!!! I am so lucky to have a great husband and wonderful kids!!! The rest of the day went great as well. I have more to post but I'll add to this tomorrow!

Friends

While in Colorado I got to catch up with a lot of old friends. This is a high school/college friend Bekah and my kiddos. I haven't seen her in a few years. I also ran into my all time best friend Shea randomly at Wal-mart the night before she was leaving for South America! And to top it off it was my high schools 10 year high school reunion. The timing was coincidence and I hadn't even planned on attending any of the events but Gabe asked me if I wanted to go to the picnic at Fox Run. The kids had all just gone down for naps and so we hopped in the car and saw a bunch of old friends. I was surprised at how many names came back to me almost instantly. It was pretty funny, there was still someone who thought that Gabe and me were together...Fun having a sibling of the opposite sex in the same grade with you! All in all it was good time catching up...good memories, good friends.

Wakeboarding in Pueblo

One of the most exciting things I was looking forward to for our Colorado trip was #1 seeing Andrew after 2 years (of course) and #2 wake boarding. So here are lots of pics of the fam doing what I love most!Here's my pops! Isn't he fit! He's so great to drive us and pull us most of the day, only getting a short run in himself. Thanks Dad!
Little bro Joe. He's a stud!

Big bro Gabe...
Little bro Zig...He's so fun to watch!
I love the water distortion in this photo!
A glimpse of what the reservoir looks like. It's really pretty!
A jump almost landed
Moi
Here's my little man Ash driving the boat, what a cutie!
The most beautiful little girl ever!

Kiddie rid with Ashton, he was having a great time, but like his cousin Ben whom didn't get photoed, ended like this....

Overall a BLAST!!! I hope one day we're all rich so we can spend weeks on the lake together!

Temple Trip

On Saturday the family was able to go to the Denver Temple to do baptisms and sealings. What a wonderful experience!!! Andrew just got home from serving a mission in Puerto Rico and it has been years since all the family has been together. It was especially meaningful to go to the temple with all the family (with the exception of Michael) and be reminded of the eternal family bond that we have, thanks to our loving Saviour. It was also the first time that I have been there since Tyler and I were married there four years ago and again, I am so blessed to have such an incredible husband and friend to be mine for the eternities (along with our own two beautiful boys). I am SOOOO grateful for temples and for the opportunity that we have to receive perspective, guidance and strength from our Father in Heaven. I savored every minute of it.
Here is a picture of the group (with the exception of my in-laws-who were also with us and taking this picture~thanks!)
My fun-loving father-in-law, feeling good.
Andrew, me and Joey, or, Los solteros (the singles). Well, I'm not but without Tyler physically there, I got thrown into this group.
Gotta love brothers! (Can you believe that I'm fake strangling a just turned 13 year old? I mean look at my heals and he's still got height on me!)
My beautiful parents. Couldn't have dreamed of better!
Big bro Gabe and wife Becca
Little Sis Kirsten and her hubbie Ryan (oh, and little Keith expected to make his earthly appearance next week!)

9 months

My baby boy is 9 months old!!! He had his well baby check up yesterday and here are his stats

Weight: 21 lb 2 oz (60th percentile)
Height: 29 3/4 inches (65th percentile)

So here is what my little Isaac is doing now...Rolls, sits, spins, loves to grab his little feet, loves to stick out his tongue, blow raspberries, he's not crawling but is able to scoot backwards while he is on his tummy. He still doesn't have any teeth so his smile is just as sweet as can be. He absolutely loves his older brother, is ticklish on his thighs and tummy, loves bubbles and is starting to self feed table foods. He also really loves his daddy and has a special smile that only Dad gets. Overall he is EXTREMELY happy. I am so happy to have him with us and can't wait to continue to see his personality unfold. He is my little angel and I adore him!!!