Update

I know it has been much too long since I last posted anything, it is obvious I am not much of a blogger. Things have been quite hectic over the last few months. We finally bought a house and moved in the middle of March. We have been busy remodeling, unpacking, and organizing and we still have so much to do. Check back in two years and I will let you know what has been completed.

Another thing that has thrown our lives out of balance was the discovery that Claire has a heart defect and will need open heart surgery. I took her into the doctor for croup a month ago and the doctor heard a heart murmur. After several tests at Primary Children's Hospital by the end of the day I was told she had a large hole between her atriums (Atrial Septal Defect) that would require open heart surgery. Needless to say we were in shock. Now we are just trying to keep her from getting sick before her surgery on July 26th. If she gets even a cold we have to post-pone the surgery for six weeks. So we have been trying to quarantine her and Jane as much as possible- no church, no stores, no family parties if someone is sick, etc. We really can't have her surgery delayed as I am pregnant and due the beginning of September. With my last two pregnancies going early, I think I am the only pregnant woman praying that I don't go early again! Any prayers in Claire's behalf would be greatly appreciated. It is the top thing in my mind most hours of the day as we wait for her surgery day. My life perspective has totally changed the last month.


P.S. we are having another girl! I tried to add some pictures of the girls, but it wasn't working...sorry

winter happenings

Girls with their cousins Sadie and Piper, waiting for the train at Candlelight Christmas at This is the Place Park, it was so fun, definitely a Christmas tradition from here on out.

Claire on Father Christmas's lap at Candlelight Christmas

Jane's turn, classic baby picture on santa's lap

Claire's first pony, impressive!

One of the girl's favorite pastimes, running around without clothes

Claire's first time skiing, she said she loved it!

Sledding

Christmas at Nana and Gramp's house

Halloween 2010

Here are some pictures of the girls from Halloween. Claire was "Super Claire" and Jane was a cute pumpkin.

The littlest Interior Designer

You know you have been designing and talking about houses for too long when you take your three year old to a design center and as she browses through the samples she says, "I want this tile for the mudroom, this one for the kid's bathroom, this one for the master bathroom, and this one for the kitchen". She then proceeds to choose her coordinating countertops and cabinets.

(The designer taking a break in the snow two days ago)

Summer Birthdays!

It seems the moment we arrived here in Utah we have been running around crazy.  I haven’t had a chance to blog and have been feeling guilty about not posting lately, so here it is…

Somewhere Over the Rainbow…Claire turned 3!

 

the birthday girl

the spread

the candles being blown out

the cake (yes, this took quite a long time!)

enjoying every last bite

her favorite part, presents!

 

Jane turned one and we had a great carnival party to celebrate the occasion.

the spread

the cake & candle

this girl has a bottomless stomach and a sweet tooth, she ate almost the entire cake!

presents!

carnival games, we had to have them in the garage due to high winds and a threatening storm

Lots of fun, but I am secretly glad I have almost a year until the next birthday parties.

Here are some cute pics of Jane recently:

Farewell to the Husker State

Even though we have only been in Nebraska for a short time, I have been reminiscing about all things that have happened in our lives the last two years:

• Claire had her first birthday
• Claire took her first steps
• Claire lost her first three teeth in a chair climbing accident (one of which was never found, so will be forever somewhere here in Nebraska!)
• First time I have ever been in a small LDS branch
• First and hopefully last full kitchen remodel
• Jane was born at home, delivered by Jake (first and hopefully last!). 
• Jane’s whole life so far has been here- learning to roll, crawl, stand up, etc.

Things I will miss about Nebraska:

• Living in a small town where we can walk to the grocery store, post office, park, downtown, etc. and Jake can ride his bike to work and come home for lunch everyday.
• Never being caught in traffic.
• All the great people in the Columbus Branch.
• Sitting on our front porch swing at night in the summer and watching the fireflies.
• Claire and I watching the squirrels,  bunnies, and cardinals out our window.
• Not watering our grass once last year.
• Low cost of living.

Things we have learned about Nebraskans and/or people from Columbus:

• They have supper here, not dinner.
• They say “yet” a lot (such as, “We are helping other customers yet”).
• Jake’s work was known as “BDs” instead of just BD.
• We have never seen such loyalty to a football team, most houses have some kind of Husker symbol in the front yard, on game days everyone is wearing a husker shirt and the games are broadcast over the intercom at the store.

So long to the midwest and everyone we have gotten to know here, we will miss you!

Jane conquers the slide

Jane can now make it all the way to the top of the slide.  She is obsessed with going on it and if I take my eyes off her for one second she is up on it again!