Better late than never

While we've been busy juggling career changes, career beginnings, pregnancy and 2 active boys life seems to be rushing by all too fast. We have managed to have fun, I have just slacked on not only taking pictures, but also in posting them. So, without further delay...here's our 4th of July.

The annual Pet Parade. 

 The boys decorated their scooters and wagon (which our sweet "niece" Laila rode in) and brought our Weimaraner, Boulder, along.

 I've also been fortunate to share almost this entire pregnancy with a dear friend of mine, Marina, that was 3 weeks ahead of me. She just welcomed her little boy, Jonas, into the world this past Friday.

After the parade we had a bbq at Grammy and Pops and lite some fireworks.

And then we enjoyed the fireworks off the butte with Nana and Papa. It was a very large day...just as summer should be.

31 week photos

These were taken over a week and a half ago now. I made sure to wear the same shirt I had on when I took pictures at 24 weeks for comparison...this time I could barely cover my stomach with the shirt.

Little Fish

Graduation!

On June 16th Ryan graduated with his master's in counseling. 3 years. 3 Loooong years. And he's done! He's a MASTER. To say I'm proud would be an understatement, but for lack of a better word, that I am. Proud. Ryan has worked so hard and with so much passion to follow his heart into a career of counseling. The first two years were filled with courses, and papers...oh the papers...not to mention house remodeling. But it's really in the last year that it's all come together. Ryan has been working at two different internship sites, finishing up course work, putting together a final oral defense, taking and passing his ever important exam, and getting everything in line to graduate. All while juggling 2 kids and a moody, nauseous, temperamental pregnant wife (enough said). Proud. I am proud that he's completed this journey in entirety. I'm proud every time I hear from his peers, his professors, and his colleagues what an amazing counselor he is. I'm proud of the man he's become. I"m proud of his dedication and commitment not just to his schooling but to our family as well. And I'm proud of how much he's grown throughout this process. 

And I'm also proud of us. The honesty behind the past 3 years is that there were parts that were some of our hardest times and I am so proud of our commitment to each other. The challenges could have taken us down, but we fought. And we're coming out on top. And I am so excited for the road ahead. 

Proud. Here's to your passion Ryan. Here's to your excitement. Here's to your degree. Here's to your hard work. And here's to us. I love you.

P.S. If you hear of anyone looking for a counselor in our area I know of a great one ;)

Preschool Celebrations

The boys finished up preschool a week ago and each class ended with a special presentation. Kadyn's class did a play to the book Wombat Stew. He's the cutest Koala you've even seen...even if we didn't capture a picture of him smiling. Thank you Nana for helping make his costume. Kadyn had come home from preschool 2 weeks before his play (we were going to be in Kaua'i for one of those 2 weeks) and said that he needed a homemade Koala costume for a play. I told him I better get working on it and he quickly looked at me with concern all over his face and said "Maybe we should have Nana or Grammy do it Mommy." No faith I tell you. 

 Kai's costume was much easier. His class needed to be all one color...top and bottom. And I was very proud of him for picking a color that no one else in his class was. They were doing 3 different songs and dances and then taught the parents how to do one.

 Yes, that's a typical Kai face, but it's also a part in the song where they need to put their feet apart, knees together, bottoms up, eyes closed, and tongue out. Super cute. The stickers were to help the kids differentiate between left and right for the Hokey Poky. Hopefully I can get Ryan to upload videos.

It's hard to believe that Kadyn has finished preschool for good. He's now a Kindergartner. We went by his new school this past week and he got to take a peak inside. He's very excited that several of his friends from preschool will be at the same school. As hard as it will be for the 2 boys to be apart (especially for Kai still at the same preschool without his big brother) I am looking so forward to them creating their own identities. 

Kauai--the last post

On Tuesday of our vacation Anders friend, Tara, came for a few days. The boys were immediately smitten. And when I say immediately...she basically had to walk in the door. Actually, I think we were all smitten. 

We spent the next few days playing cards, making leis, exploring the botanical gardens (Kadyn's request), eating ice cream and shave ice (my, I mean, Kai's request), checking out the spouting horn, looking for crabs and sea creatures, and watching beautiful sunsets. To say we had fun is an understatement. 

 We only saw the entry of the Botanical Gardens...and what an amazing entry!

Kadyn thought this bamboo was hysterical and proceeded to tell me I have a Buddha belly for the rest of the trip. 

Grammy and Pops watched the boys so the 4 of us could go out to dinner. SO much fun. 

 "Sea Creature Beach" Though this year the tide was up too high. Kadyn still remembers the first year and all the starfish and sea slugs that he and Pops found. And all the fish he caught last year. Still fun to dig for crabs this year.

 The Spouting Horn

 Kadyn had such a good time checking out this sunset he asked to do a repeat the next night with Grammy, Pops and Uncle Anders.

 Kadyn also became quite the photographer while we were there. He took the picture below and many wonderful pictures in the botanical gardens.

 Every morning the boys have a ritual, they get to walk to the market at the resort and pick out a "special" cereal. It's special because it's chalked full of sugar...they do not get those at home! It's a highlight for them for sure. In year's past both boys would wear their jammies. This year, Kadyn always wanted to wear clothes. He's growing up.

 And boy were we glad that Kadyn wanted to do a repeat of the beautiful sunset from the night before because our last night there did not disappoint.

 Thank you Grammy and Pops!! We had SO much fun!!