Odds and Ends

Life has been crazy for us over the last 6 months (hence the absence from my own blog...) mostly because of Mat's schooling. In the last 6 months, we've been in Idaho/Washington twice, Utah once, Indiana for a few weeks, and to the ER a couple times. We've been healthy, sick, here and there, and everywhere in between.  Right now, Mat is currently is Texas and we'll be heading there next week to join him for a couple weeks, then its straight to California for Thanksgiving.  We'll speed back to Kentucky only to have Mat in minor surgery, then to fly to two interviews, all before flying to Idaho (Together finally!) for Christmas.  Suffice it to say that despite the last few months being horribly stressful at times, I really don't remember a lot of it.  But, thankful for cameras, pictures usually help me to block out the bad and remember all the good.  So, here's a few things that we did over the last 6 months: 

Mat's sister Kaysie got married in March and it was a crazy, wonderful, gold-sequin-infested whirlwind of a wedding. We had a blast with the whole family together and it was such a tender moment to see all five of my in-laws children together, with their spouses in the temple.  It reminded me of our wedding because, as the last of 5 children, when Mat and I got married, we completed the family.  Here are a few pictures from that week: 

We visited my family right after the wedding for about 4 weeks, because my family and I all trained and ran a 10k together.  It was so much fun to be with family and to run with my 4 siblings and brother-in-law.  We had a blast and immediately after said we were ready to sign up for the next event! (As a side note, since I use this as a journal sometimes, it was my first 10k and I ran it in 58:54.  Not great, but a place to start. I think I got 6th in my age division, so that was fun.) 

(trying on our shirts :) ) 

(Carb loading before the race...yeah, right)

(The 6 of us that raced)

(Me and my siblings, post-race)

We also did other fun things with my family while we were there, including an ER visit for Parker. :) Ok, not so fun, but the doctors in Moscow were so nice--maybe it was because of BIG, BAD Dr. Grandpa who was there with little Parker. :) That always seems to help. (For those of you who know my dad, you know that I'm completely joking.  My dad is the kindest, meekest, gentlest person you'll ever meet, and never parades around that he's a doctor.  In fact, he never brings it up. I admire that. So, really, I'm joking. But it is always interesting to me to see how Papa Bear my dad gets when his grandchildren get sick.  It kind of makes me proud.) 

In May, Camden turned 3 and we invited a bunch of kids to the park and had a blast.  I made him a cake (trying to keep up with my mothers amazing cakes is hard!) and we just played.  Too bad it was so chilly outside!  The kids didn't seem to mind though. 

(his favorite birthday gift)

(Cam's cake, and the gang at his party)

We did a movie night with the kids in the park early summer and they loved staying up late! (My kids go to bed early.  I'm THAT Mom....)

We gave Parker his first haircut, 

(pre-haircut)

(and post-haircut) 

Rock-climbed with some friends (did you know that Mat and I LOVE to rock climb?)

and spent a weekend together in Louisville just the 4 of us. 

(fireworks)

(more fireworks)

(my little pyro,,,,ok, not really...)

(Camden, in awe at the zoo)

(Waterslide at the Zoo)

In July, Parker turned one, and it was back to the park with friends, and another cake for me to make.  this one was easier.  just cupcakes, that magically turned into a caterpillar. ;)

(Parker's favorite present)

(not sure why he's so upset after cake....hmmm...)

(His cake)

(my little one year old, that's right, eating bark... he's a child prodigy)

We surprised my family and flew to Idaho for a family vacation where everyone was going to be there (except supposedly my family!) and stayed for a couple weeks. My family is really bad at surprises and normally everyone ends up finding out but we were successful! My sister Tiffany picked us up and after seeing everyone, we discovered that we had finally succeeded in keeping a secret from the family!  

We spent a week at the cabin and did some other things too. 

(boat rides practically made Camden giggle)

(up until this point, Parker wasn't allowed to eat dairy, thus, this is his first ice cream)

(NOT Camden's first ice cream....) 

August, Mat was in Indianapolis for the Month so the boys and I went up for the last 2 weeks.  We got there on a Saturday, both kids were violently vomiting and feverish Sunday morning and we rushed Parker to the ER early Monday morning. The kids spent the first week sick and watched loads of Bubble Guppies, Wallykazam, Team Umizoomi, Dora, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and just about every kid show you could imagine.  But the second week was a lot of fun!  We found just about every kids play place that existed within 30 minutes of us and the kids couldn't get enough of them.  

(The beginning of Camden's obsession with trains... a monorail)

(.... and an indoor train)

(the beginning of Parker's obsession with coloring) 

(slam dunk!)

Camden started Pre-school in September, and seems to love it.  I've volunteered a couple times and they do a great job with the kids.  It was so weird to have my baby walk off the preschool, and just be like, "See ya later, Mom!" 

We celebrated fall with Daddy since he was here for the months of September and October.  We did hayrides, carnivals, etc, etc. It was nice to have Daddy around a little bit.  At the End of September Daddy surprised me with an early birthday present and hired a photographer to take professional family pictures of us!  (I've wanted to for a while now). I absolutely love the pictures and will post them as soon as I have them. 

(a corn box!  who knew?!)

Mat's parents came to visit for a weekend, and then Mat left right after to go to San Antonio for another away rotation. Right after he left, on my birthday, Camden and I went on a date, and Cam vomited all over our car.  Then Parker got pneumonia, and by that time I was ready to quit the single parent thing.  But things have been a little better since then.  The kids and I are starting to get into the swing of things and doing better.  Mat is loving San Antonio though, so that makes it worth it.  We'll join him next week! 

(Camden on our date...pre-vomit)

We trick or treated with some friends here in Lexington and Camden and Parker both had a blast!  I was so nervous to do it on my own because I wanted it to be a good experience for Camden especially (since he'd never done it), and so going with friends was perfect.  Camden's good friends Inge (6) and Ammon (3) were just the positive influence Camden needed.  He loved it!  And Parker caught on WAY more than I expected.  I tried to keep him back and he would not have it!  He was right there behind the other kids, trying to say "trick-or-treat" (which sounded more like "cheet") and holding out his bag and watching with awe as the candy fell in. It was kind of adorable. 

(my little firemen)

(Cam, Inge and Ammon)

Well, that's our life in a nutshell.  It's been a whirlwind, but it has had a lot of great moments.  I have times where I think, if we can only get through this medical school and residency thing, then life will be better.  But then I catch myself and realize that I can't let my life go by.  That's usually the point at which the kids and I try a new adventure. :) Here's to 6 more months of adventures!