My New Degree

So most of you probably didn't know that I also had a graduation when we went back to Des Moines last week.  I graduated from the SOS (the Significant Other Support club) at DMU.  The SOS was a fun club to be a part of during my time in Des Moines.

I decided to take my graduation very seriously by making a few graduation cap fascinators for a few of my friends.  We looked festive and our caps didn't even smash our hair!  

Ethan's First Primary Talk

Today Ethan gave his first primary talk.  The theme was on how living the gospel helps us choose the right.  He used his visuals to remind him about what to say and didn't need any help from me.  The only thing that frustrated him was the microphone has a short in it and at times didn't magnify his voice as loud as he would have liked!  There is no "shy" bone in this kid's body.
This little video was taken after church so his grandparents in Durango could see his talk.

This next video is of Caden giving Ethan's talk.  Caden probably watched Ethan practice 10 times this weekend, and then he wanted a turn.  I was amazed that he also had it memorized.  So we took a video of him too.  Pretty cute, our little 2 year old talker.

Introducing...

Dr. Clark Johnson (also a Master of Anatomy).  Last Saturday Clark graduated and received his 2 degrees.  It was such a wonderful day.  Clark's parents were able to come, and the ceremony was special because Vaughn was able to hood Clark.  It was awesome!
He did it, he did it, he really, really did it!  Yahoo!!! 

Clark, Tyler, Ted and Bryce...DPM buddies!

I read this quote on the Mary Engelbreit calendar, "Not what you do, but how you do it is a test of your capacity."  When I read it I immediately thought of Clark.  When we first arrived in Des Moines to start medical school the professors and several students that were in the classes before us talked about how hard it would be, they told us you can never take a day off from studying, school will be your whole life, etc.  I was a nervous wreck about what this would mean for our family and how hard this would be for Clark.
Well I wasted time being worried.  From the beginning Clark decided that Sunday was the Lord's day and that he would not study on that day.  Even though there were numerous huge tests that were scheduled for Monday mornings he never went back on his commitment.  I know our family was blessed and Clark was blessed in his schooling for keeping the Sabbath day holy.  Clark was always one to study the gospel daily along with his study of the sciences and medicine.  He always put family first.  The boys and I always felt like we were his first priority.
I had to brag just a little, because I'm so proud of the degrees Clark received, but more proud of the person that he is and the way that he handled the last 4 years! 

Caden is 2!

A happy birthday it was for our little 2 year old!  In just the last month he has started talking up a storm, and it is adorable.  He was pretty excited for his birthday, he kept saying "Happy birthday to you."  We celebrated 3 days early, but don't tell him that!

This was when he first saw his cake after waking up from his nap:


Since Caden tells me every morning he has dreams about monkeys we decided to have a monkey themed party.



Lovin that cake!



The best part of decorating for this party was that we could just use things we found in my mom's house, like the monkeys and vines she just happened to have : )


I have to give a shout to Uncle James for bringing Caden the cute monkey centerpiece clear from the Dominican Republic.  He was horrified a few weeks ago when Caden promptly removed the monkeys maracas, hands and tail when handed the monkey.  Nothing a little glue couldn't fix.



The party was a little hard for this 4 year old...it's tough when your little brother is getting all of the attention and all the new toys!

Caden was so cute opening his presents.  He would run to the table, pick a gift, run back to the opening chair, climb on the chair, open the present, then get so excited yelling and running around to show everyone his new gift.  Then he would give a cute little "tankyou," and it would all start over again.  I don't think I've ever seen a kid more excited for his gifts.  We loved when he opened a Mr. Potato head he yelled, "Daddy." 

He knew just what to do on his new scooter.

Oh how we love this little 2 year old!  We love his enthusiasm for the simple things in life.  We love his cute sense of humor.  We love his spice that comes with being 2.

Solar Eclipse

 This evening we went out to check out the solar eclipse.  It was so bright that we put on 4 pair of sunglasses and the ski goggles and then we could see it just right. 

An hour later I went outside and found Caden like this:

He was gazing at the sun yelling, "shun, shun."  It made me giggle.  I'm sure he thought we were crazy when he saw us in our glasses and goggles staring at the sun.  This little guy's funny personality and sense of humor is coming out more and more.  He cracks me up all the time.  I'm thinking he is going to always keep us on our toes. 

 

End of An Era

This weekend Clark has been able to go fishing, sleep outside in a tent with Ethan, and relax with nothing to worry about!  Friday was his last official day of this crazy 4th year of medical school.  Yahoo!

I just calculated that we traveled 5,336 miles to move us 9 times...it is great to be at this end of this year.  Tonight I took a picture of all the library cards I collected and used since last May.  All of these cards represent different places and wonderful memories, and the challenge of our gypsy lifestyle from the past year!    

I can't even begin to summarize this year...what a challenge!  The first move was the hardest for me, I was so lonely and so sad to have left our home and our friends in Iowa.  I still don't know how we fit all of our stuff in our 2 cars.  The subsequent moves each got easier, I got used to the transient lifestyle, no furniture, and the lack of a social life.  But even with the challenges I wouldn't do it any differently.

It was a wonderful blessing to get to be with family in Boise, Durango and Albuquerque.  It was an adventure to get to see so many beautiful landscapes as we drove across the country.  It was fun to get to experience new things and places.  We saw many miracles- with Caden's health, with housing, with safe travels.  And most of all I'm grateful that we were able to stay together as a family.  Our life didn't stop this year, it was just different.  We have a year full of memories that I will always cherish...and I'm grateful for just one more move coming up an a permanent address for at least the next 3 years! 

Mother's Day

There are a few things I always want to remember about this Mother's Day.  I want to remember being woken up to Ethan racing into my room with a bottle of syrup yelling, "would you like some maple syrup?"  Caden followed close behind and offered me his "baketball."  Clark and my Dad followed behind him with breakfast and juice in bed.


The best part of my day that I don't think I can ever forget happened at church.  The primary kids ages 3-11 came to the front during the meeting to sing some Mother's Day songs.  Ethan was so excited, he marched up to the front and went directly to the podium and pulled the microphone down by his mouth.  "Oh no, oh no, surely someone will move him over by the other children," I thought...but no one moved him.  When the song started you couldn't hear the piano or any of the other kids as Ethan's cute 4 year old voice belted out, "Mother I Love You," over the microphone!  Oh my word, we laughed so hard we cried.  Every once in awhile he would peek his little head out from around the podium and give us a thumbs up sign and a big grin.  After the first verse the Bishop stood up and lifted the microphone so it wouldn't be right in his face, but his voice still rang out quite strong!

What could be in my Mother's Day presents?

2 Cute Boys!  What a surprise!  I'm the luckiest mom around!

I want to remember how Ethan decided the gift bags were really a jack in the box.  I thought it was pretty creative.



I want to remember the Whoppers I won during Relief Society for being the mom to have had the biggest baby.  Caden won me the treat with his 10 lbs. 1 oz.  There was another woman there that had a 10 pounder so I won by one ounce.  Hoping and praying this third baby will not win me any future Whoppers.

I want to remember the fun bubble popping dance party we had after a delicious dinner prepared by Clark, my Dad and my brother James.  It was awesome!

I thought some nice mother-son photos would help me really remember the day...but getting one of those is easier said than done!  Here are a few though to remember the Mother's Day I had with a 4 year old, an almost 2 year old, and a baby on the way.